It really irks me!

Maybe that’s how the individuals wish to be addressed and have made it known to the media.
It’s a personal thing and if a person wants to keep their birth name then that’s fine by me.

I am proud of my Huguenot birth name and will keep it for life. A wise decision in retrospect as it would have been changed 3 times now!!

And I am Ms.

I understand people wanting to keep their birth names, but why not make it double-barrelled like 'Middleton-Mountbatten'?
I really do not think that is the case but you may well be right!

Hello Ali
I'm interested in why it irks you so.
Your first sentence is telling.
Do you resent losing your maiden name?

Lazy media I suspect.
I posted recently mentioning that I always used my maiden name during my professional life. It occurred to me that the term maiden name seems outdated in the modern world.

Izabella,
Ms. refers to a woman who has been divorced, which it sounds like you may have, so that would be in fitting with you!
Unless you're currently married, in which case you'd legally be a Mrs. again.

The RF really couldn't do that double barrel thing.
It's just like a stage name, particularly in Meghan's case. I doubt if she uses her married name in professional circumstances.

I kept my maiden name, I certainly wouldnt have wanted it to be double barrelled

Ali08

Izabella,
Ms. refers to a woman who has been divorced, which it sounds like you may have, so that would be in fitting with you!
Unless you're currently married, in which case you'd legally be a Mrs. again.

No it doesn't.

FannyCornforth,
No! I had already changed that name by deed poll several years before I was married, so I was happy to take on my husband's name.
But I was brought up to regard people by their correct names (friends could, of course, be known by shortened names or nicknames) and titles, and to make sure I spelled them correctly, too!

Ms. is the shortened version of Mizz which notifies the woman is divorced!
Or, at least it did originally!!
So many things have been changed to suit new generations.

A lot of people keep their maiden names these days, especially in a professional capacity. It gives some anonymity and privacy away from work and if you have built up a reputation in your maiden name why would you want to change it?

Ali nowadays Ms just signifies that you are a woman.
It says nothing of your marital status, just like Mr.

My sister and my daughters all kept their fathers surname on marriage, it never occurred to me to keep my fathers name

I've kept my maiden name.
I like it, and dislike MrC's.
If it were the other way around, I would have changed it.
Shallow, I know!

Where I come from you have your married name and your own name. "Maidens " rarely come into it.

Ms has never meant divorced, despite what people will tell you. It meant you didn't want to be addressed as either Mrs or Miss.

Whether I'm married or not is usually none of their business.

LauraNorder,
Famous people, like celebrities, who were well known before they were married often kept/keep their maiden names in their jobs. Altho not all do!
But they'd use their married names in their private lives, so they'll still be known as, for example, Miss. Kelly. Preston (actress) would be Mrs. Travolta away from the screen!

After years of using my married surname, even after divorce, I recently had to use my maiden name for my dna/genealogical research and found it quite pleased me to suddenly use my own name again. It makes me feel different somehow.
Regarding the young royals, yes I think the media should get to grips with their married names now. But, as someone said, maybe they like it that way.

I agree with you Fanny my niece in her 30s I always address as Ms she has never been married but miss sounds either like a young girl or an aged spinster.

I missed my maiden name , even after many years. I have begun to take the title Ms rather than Mrs. Men are always Mr and under that title no one knows whether they are married or single. I question why women are generally expected to declare their marital status on letters / documents. Why should I disclose my personal situation!? It is no one's business. Historically it was designed to establish a woman was an appendage to get husband. Surely we have moved on from that! Lots of people keep their original name on marriage and why not . Why does society expect this of women but the same rule very rarely applies to men. If a couple want the same name then perhaps more men should take their wives name.

As others have said, personal choice, I’ve been remarried for 14 years, but have kept my previous marital surname on all paperwork literal and online and it’s what I’m known as.

Surely no-one ever used the 'word' Mizz?
Especially in written form?

If you work in a primary school, you are always referred to as Miss, even if you are a man!

I'm sure that Galaxy can vouch for me!

aggie,
It's quite understandable in cases where there are no sons to carry the name on, or if the male spouse has an unfortunate name or it would become unfortunate along with the wifes name.
My argument is that people as famous as Catherine and Meghan are still being referred to like they were still single - that's what irks me!
I guess it's just not how I was raised.

Alegrias1,
Ms./Mizz. was always used as a reference, on letters at least, to refer to a divorced woman. That what I was taught at the schools I attended, and by post office staff!
Whether YOU are married or single does not bother me in the least.