Which surname goes first?

Traditionally, the first surname is paternal and comes from the father, while the second surname is maternal and comes from the mother. In recent years, some countries have allowed parents to alter the order of surnames for their children, but in historical records paternal surnames generally precede maternal names.

What last name goes first?

Which name goes first? It's totally up to you but it's most common for your last name to be the first (the person hyphenating) and your spouse's second (assuming your spouse isn't hyphenating). I'm choosing to hyphenate my last name.

Does the man or woman's last name go first?

Married, she uses her husband's name socially

NOTE: Traditionally, a woman's name preceded a man's on an envelope address, and his first and surname were not separated (Jane and John Kelly). Nowadays, the order of the names—whether his name or hers comes first—does not matter and either way is acceptable.

Which last name comes first in marriage?

You can go the "traditional" route and list your "maiden" name first, or you could choose to list your new last name first, followed by your original last name. Some couples decide to have both partners change to the hyphenated last name, as a show of unity and equality.

Does the father's last name go first?

There is no set order. Usually when a woman marries, she'll put maiden first, married second, so I suppose you could do that with your child's name, ie your (maiden name)-(his name), but there is no legal order...

What Your Last Name Means

How do you address a family with two last names?

How does having two last names work?

A hyphenated last name is when you and your spouse combine both of your last names with a hyphen. This is also called a double surname. In many states, when you fill out your application for your marriage license, you'll be writing your intended married name on that application.

How do last names work in marriage?

If your state's marriage laws allow your new last name, you and your spouse will both need to obtain a name change via court order after your marriage. Most states require a court order if a spouse seeks a last name that is unrelated to either spouse's current or former last names.

How do you combine last names?

"The easiest and most common way to blend two surnames is to double-barrel, with or without a hyphen," says Cécile. "A couple has the right to assume or combine surnames with their marriage certificate, in whichever order, assuming they are not making any changes to the spelling.

How do you alphabetize two last names?

Hyphenated names are considered one unit. Ignore the hyphen and alphabetize considering the first part of the hyphenated name. Ignore ampersands (&) joining two or more proper names. File considering the first name.

How do you write a married couple's name?

Traditionally for married couples, you include the male's first and last name (i.e. Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Arendt). It's likely the most familiar and the most common way to address envelopes.

How do you pluralize a last name?

The plurals of last names are just like the plurals of most nouns. They typically get formed by adding -s. Except, that is, if the name already ends in s or z. Then the plural is formed by adding -es.

How do you write maiden name with married name example?

Use Maiden Names for Women

For example, to record Mary Elizabeth, whose maiden name is unknown and who is married to John DEMPSEY, write Mary Elizabeth () or Mary Elizabeth () DEMPSEY.

Can babies have two surnames?

Some names lend themselves well to hyphenation while others don't. If you don't like hyphens but still want to use both names, your child can simply have two last names. This is the norm in many Spanish-speaking countries, where kids get one last name from each parent.

How do double barrel surnames work?

A double-barrelled surname is created by combining the surnames of a married couple by either using a hyphen or by simply adding the second name onto the husband's or wife's existing surname. Over the past two decades, double-barrelled surnames have become a lot more popular in the UK.

What last name does a baby take?

In cases where the child is born out of wedlock, the child often gets the mother's last name. But if paternity is established, both parents have the right to petition the court to change the child's last name. After the name change, the court will issue a new birth certificate with the changed name.

Why do people have double-Barrelled surnames?

Back in days of yore, names were closely tied to notions of inheritance. If a family lacked any male descendants, creating a double-barrelled surname was a way of preserving a name that would otherwise have died out – and of keeping the estate in the family (just think of the plot of every other costume drama…).

Can husband take wife's last name?

Changing Your Name Regardless

Even though it may be more expensive, anyone can choose to take his or her wife's last name by petitioning for a legal name change. Each state and local court may have a different form for the petition, and yes, there will be filing fees.

Which name goes first husband or wife?

Both husband and wife use their first names, with the wife's name listed first and the husband's second. It helps to remember the old Southern rule of always keeping the man's first and last name together.

Why do ex wives keep last name?

It may be hard for you to see it, but most ex-wives don't keep their ex-husband's last name simply to be a source of constant irritation. Continuity with children — One of the most common reasons an ex may keep your last name is to keep her name the same as any children.

Can a baby have 2 surnames UK?

Parents may give a child a completely different surname, or take that of one, or both, of the parents. In exceptional cases, however, officials can refuse to register a name deemed to be vulgar or offensive.

How do you write an initial with two last names?

For an individual with a hyphenated last name, begin with the first name initial, followed by the two last name initials, and end with the middle name initial. The two last name initials (center) will be larger.

Can I legally have two last names without a hyphen?

Answer: As long as you can submit an original or certified copy of the marriage certificate documenting the use of two last names without the hyphen, then you can have them both on your passport.

How do you address mixed families?

It's also a common usage here to address the people you know by name, adding and family to include the others, e.g. "Dear Helen, Steven, and family" (in this example, Helen and Steven are the adults whilst Ben and Sarah are the children).