I love this. I noticed the same thing in Scotland. Just last week, my daughter and I visited a historic home that had a small cemetery on the property. Many graves were quite old. Husbands and wives buried side by side, and several wives had kept their maiden name. I came very close to keeping mine. The only reason I didn’t was that a co-worker remarked, “You don’t want to have a different last name from your children.” Then, that seemed a good enough reason to change. Now, I wish I had thought it through.
I, too, changed my name after marriage—and retained my married name after my divorce. The biggest part of it was, as Ellen said, because I wanted the same last name as my very young children. The other not-insignificant part was also that I hated my original surname, which I associated it with my father and his family—and I loathed that association on a visceral level. I continue using that name today. If I had to do it again, though, I might have changed my last name to my mother’s maiden name: one I associate with the grandparents and their children, most of whom strong, loving people who helped me become the person I am today.
I’m proud of you, Elizabeth. Thank you for sharing. 💙
ohhh I love this! thanks for sharing and giving some background information! i always wondered what 'treu' came from...i thought you were being clever with a play on 'true' haha
i changed my name after marriage too and went back to my maiden after my divorce and i'm so happy i made that decision. at first, i didn't want to because of all the paperwork pain and dealing with all that AGAIN, plus it was also during COVID. anyway, if i ever get married again, i won't be changing my name!
I’m still seriously considering going back to my original name legally. But like you mentioned, the paperwork would be a nightmare—especially minus the “excuse” of divorce. I think it’s a different legal process?
I love this. I noticed the same thing in Scotland. Just last week, my daughter and I visited a historic home that had a small cemetery on the property. Many graves were quite old. Husbands and wives buried side by side, and several wives had kept their maiden name. I came very close to keeping mine. The only reason I didn’t was that a co-worker remarked, “You don’t want to have a different last name from your children.” Then, that seemed a good enough reason to change. Now, I wish I had thought it through.
This is so illuminating. I absolutely love it. 💙
I, too, changed my name after marriage—and retained my married name after my divorce. The biggest part of it was, as Ellen said, because I wanted the same last name as my very young children. The other not-insignificant part was also that I hated my original surname, which I associated it with my father and his family—and I loathed that association on a visceral level. I continue using that name today. If I had to do it again, though, I might have changed my last name to my mother’s maiden name: one I associate with the grandparents and their children, most of whom strong, loving people who helped me become the person I am today.
I’m proud of you, Elizabeth. Thank you for sharing. 💙
ohhh I love this! thanks for sharing and giving some background information! i always wondered what 'treu' came from...i thought you were being clever with a play on 'true' haha
i changed my name after marriage too and went back to my maiden after my divorce and i'm so happy i made that decision. at first, i didn't want to because of all the paperwork pain and dealing with all that AGAIN, plus it was also during COVID. anyway, if i ever get married again, i won't be changing my name!
I’m still seriously considering going back to my original name legally. But like you mentioned, the paperwork would be a nightmare—especially minus the “excuse” of divorce. I think it’s a different legal process?