Dear Houellie,

I'm shocked you even ask ...

Marilyn, Madonna, Pink, and of course - Foxy!

Need I say more?

Very interesting question about the store one puts in a surname.
I mentioned some time ago that I'm adopted. Lately I have been doing a lot of genealogical research on my biological connections - this is quite novel for me because for a long time I had no idea of my origins.
Because I have almost zero info on my father, at the moment I'm tracing the male line through my mother's side. This name is the one that I identify with. I'm feeling connected to this family and am finding great pleasure tracing the generations (two more and I might get to a scottish castle).
I've noticed, like pelican said, that many times the firstborn sons were given the mother's maiden names as their middle names in times gone by - there used to be quite well followed guidelines in this respect to naming children depending on which nationality you were and the traditions they employed.

I agree with Piorot.
I am a great follower of geneology, and enjoy reading about the past lives of my ancestors.

There is something oddly comforting about being able to trace your ancestors using your family names as far back as you can. This would have been more difficult to do if the women did not take their husbands name

I have no problem with women taking their husbands name, or giving their children that name as well.
However, I agree it should be a personal choice.

Imagine marrying a guy whose second name is Crapper, Bastarde, Pigg, Bogg or Shittz? I know of women with these names!

Sorry if anyone reading these pages have these second names, but honestly, they must be the reason why we can change our names by deed poll if need be!

Dear Suze,

You also have to be careful with children's
Christian names ... taking the surname into
account. What's in a name sometimes can have
unexpected consequences... for example giving
a little girl the Christian name of "Ima,"
might be fine - but when the surname is "Belcher,"
put the two together and you get:

"Ima Belcher!"

or

"Jack Frost!"

And so on...

Hey, we have the makings of another thread here...

Mike Hunt.

Wayne Kerr.

I actually knew a guy called Richard Horn.

But As the author states...

'Readers will doubtless attempt to undermine the importance of the issue, then me personally. They'll announce their ''special circumstances''. Declare that it ended up going paternal because his name sounded better, his family name was dying out, it was important to his family, my surname is in the middle, etc.

Why are so many people still clinging to this convention in this day and age of divorce and DNA? A convention that insidiously reinforces power, control and ownership.'

Ah, where's pynchme and SJF when you need them.

Can't resist to join in here.

Alison Catt
Hector Pascal
Peter Ness
Name squared (eg Grace Grace)
Alan Packer