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Back to all photoblogsWhen it comes to the choice of family name, the centuries-old tradition of taking on the surname of the groom seems to prevail as the most popular choice among bridal couples. Even today, more than 80% of UK couples choose the surname of the groom as their family name. This is just one of the interesting discoveries we have made as a result of our recent poll among 300 brides here on Finalstitch.co.uk.
Are UK couples particularly conscious of tradition when it comes to the family name or are there other good reasons for opting for the surname of the groom? A look at the discussions in the forum of Finalstitch.co.uk provides insights and some additional explanations. For many brides, a new name represents a true commitment to the future husband and the beginning of the new phase of life, which marriage presents. Moreover, for many it is important to share the partner’s name as a sign of love - especially so if common children are planned, who will carry the common family name. The slightly bothersome bureaucracy needed to change personal documents like passport, driving license are not perceived as a hindrance, more an obligation of the marriage process. One bride commented in the forum: "Even if I’ll have some stress with changing my ID, I will be so happy doing it. I’ll realise that also officially I belong to him!”
On the other hand, there are also practical reasons for "giving up” a surname. For example if the bride does not particularly like her maiden name or if it is a complex or little-known surname that needs to be spelled on every occasion it is given. Also, disputes with the family or the origin of a surname (e.g. in case of carrying the name of the non-biological step-father) contribute to the fact that getting married is considered a good opportunity to “get rid of” an unpopular name in a practical way.
Certainly there are just as good reasons for the minority of those brides who want to keep their surname at all costs. Reasons for this can be an “endangered”, a rare or traditional surname that one would not like to give up. In some instances the groom takes on the surname of the bride, for example to have the same name as the bride and her children from a previous relationship. A business-related reason to keep the bride's name would be the takeover and continuation of a family-run business known under this specific surname.
One might think that compound names (or double-barrelled names are quite popular, since they allow couples to continue to carry both surnames after marriage. Even more so as some brides state that it might be painful "to break entirely with the previous surname, respectively the previous identity." Interestingly enough however, our poll does not support the case. A compound name still remains an exception in the UK. Only slightly more than one tenth of couples choose a family name in which either the bride carries a compound name (in 8.7% of cases), both take such a name (3.3%), or more rarely that the groom takes on such a name (1%). One of the reasons for the relative unpopularity of compound names might be family planning, as few couples would like their future children to have a surname which differs from that of both parents. Recently, an amusing posting in the forum was made by a bride-to-be who had chosen to take her husband’s name and who had a young daughter: "Well Mum, are you excited? Tomorrow you’ll belong to us! “
Our identical polls on our portals Fairelanoce.fr (France) and Brautpunkt.de (Germany) revealed that UK couples choose a compound name much less often than for example French couples. In France, it is twice as common to take on such a name. On the other hand, UK men are much more likely to take on the name of their future wife (in 3.3% of cases) compared to their French counterparts (1.8%). By and large, for bride or groom, taking a new surname is not a hard-fought question, but rather a sign of their commitment to one another, not only on their big day, but also for the rest of their lives.
- Lucy -
