Why would people do this?

What does one do about the name on one’s degree and other professional qualifications if one has changed one’s name?

Rabid feminists? Dear me.

A lot of professional women are known by the name that they started working using.

Anniebach take no notice.

My friend sometimes regrets taking her husband’s surname. Instead of being Pat Williams she is now Pat Down.
Does anyone else know of similar amusing combinations?

Actually, FarNorth, I do know one man who admits to having taken his wife’s name on marriage. Apparently his family name was ‘Bustard’ like the bird.

I think the most important thing is to address someone by their name. Ie the name they wish to be called. My daughter has both mine and my husband’s surnames, and I have to say I find it rude that his relatives always call her only by HIS surname. It is not her name! We’ve told them again and again and still they use the wrong name. In 7 years they have never used the correct name. And they constantly call me Mrs (husbands name). Drives me up the wall! So rude! I understand the generational issues but I think knowingly addressing someone by the wrong name is the height of rudeness!

Bellanonna we will have to wait for the poster to explain. ?

But you don’t need to. Families can choose a new surname for everyone. Or use the mothers surname. Why does it have to be the fathers surname?

Like you, Annie, I’m still puzzling over “s”.

Poor old men, Mumsyface. If they wanted a choice they'd have said so long ago.

I never realised queenie is a rabid feminist ?

How strange, why would anyone do that? I'm a widow and everyone still writes my married name

At least we have a choice .....I’m not sure if the men feel they have a choice.

Good grief, women who choose not to take their husbands name are rabid feninists, women who choose to take their husbands name are ‘s’ whatever that means .

My goodness....I hadn’t realised there was so much to say about names. Or how strongly individuals feel about the issue.
Thank you all for raising my awareness.
Couldn’t we simply call/address each other by whatever name one chooses to be known as?
I have been married twice, never changed my name and was absolutely stunned when I got divorced that I was required to sign the papers in a married name I had never used!
I was equally stunned at being ‘unfriended’ on Facebook by my husbands nieces when I asked quite politely, I thought, why a modern young woman would change her name on marriage......seems I was guilty of insensitivity or something. I think it is very easy to accidentally upset others quite unintentionally.

I rarely put Mr or Mrs on an envelope more like John and Jane Smith. Do you think your two friends left your surname of the envelope because they had forgotten it? Sometimes I forget names and have to trawl through my diary to remind myself, even if they are people I have known for years.

Tanith ?

"only rabid feminists insist on keeping their maiden names"
"use what name you like, what does it matter"

Which of those two statements do you believe Gabriella. On reflection don't answer, I think we all know what you mean and also your intention which is to irritate "rabid feminists'.

My old school friend has been married and divorced and now has a new partner but I didn't like to ask if she's married to him or not. I don't even know his surname as their cards arrive signed by both first names! Every year I struggle to address their card. Just putting first name and address would really help!

I still keep my married surname, even though we are divorced. I kept it because all my children had the surname and I didn't want to upset them by reverting to my maiden name and being different. It was a subliminal way of reassuring them I suppose.

What a to-do about nothing. Use what names you like...does it matter?
It's only rabid feminists who insist on keeping their maiden name.

Condolences for any recently bereaved....i think to be called 'mrs' (husbands name) is an older thing nowadays- it was used largely in WW2- 1960's times-it also seems to be more of an american term?certainly in the past. younger women these days call themselves 'mrs Ann smith (or whatever their OWN first name is)plus surname- wether they are widowed,married,divorced.

My brother is married but they both use their own names. I address anything to them as -
David Smith and Lynda Powell.

Edith, what is a ‘s’, I am curious of your opinion of me, just curious, not concerned.

tanit,I've been a widow for 7 months,I received a card with just my 1st name on today,thought it a bit odd,I still use same surname.

I'm a widow and have continued to use my married name - I've not come across anyone leaving off a surname for a widow.
When I got divorced from my first DH I returned to my maiden name and used Ms instead of Mrs. I did then have some people unsure of what name to call me.

The mother of a friend died just before Christmas and friends of her parents had obviously already written their Christmas cards so they simply crossed her name off the card.