Yes, a man can legally take his wife's last name, and while less common than women changing their names, it's increasingly accepted, with many couples choosing this option, hyphenating names, or merging them, often to preserve the wife's family name, especially if she's the last in her line. Legally, men have the same right to adopt their spouse's surname as women do, making it a personal choice, though some cultural or family pressures still favor tradition.
However, the law is entirely gender neutral, and the couple may adopt either of their surnames (a husband adopting his wife's family name is an uncommon but by no means unheard-of practice, which is generally accepted and carries little to no social stigma), or even a completely different one.
The Constitutional Court has ruled that men now have the same right to take their wife's surname as women do to take their husband's. The change is already in force.
There isn't one single "rarest last name" globally, as rarity changes by region, but some names are incredibly scarce, with examples including Pober, Mirren, Febland in England, Gambello (around 60 globally), and unique historical names like Marsvin (Danish noble, extinct male line) or names that have nearly vanished like Twelvetrees or Birdwhistle. Rarity often comes from geographic origins, recent migration, or names dying out, with some existing with only a handful of people.
The vast majority of women continue to take their husband's surname when they get married: 79 percent, according to a recent Pew Research survey. And an even larger majority of men don't change their names at all. The same survey found that just 5 percent of men take their wife's last name and 1 percent hyphenate.
One typical reason a man opts to take his wife's last name after marriage is to express support and commitment to the relationship. It is also a symbolic gesture of solidarity and partnership, illustrating that their union is defined by mutual love and respect, not societal expectations.
You will face judgement from others. Although it's getting more popular, keeping your maiden name is still not the 'done thing'. Older generations in particular may consider this move unusual, or even disrespectful to your husband. You'll constantly have to remind people that you're married.
"The oldest surname in the world is KATZ (the initials of the two words - Kohen Tsedek). Every Katz is a priest, descending in an unbroken line from Aaron the brother of Moses, 1300 B.C."
Although the official surname of the Royal Family is Mountbatten-Windsor, some members of the family use different 'surnames'. These stem from the senior title of the head of each branch of the family.
The Most Common Last Name on Earth
More than 106 million people have the surname Wang, a Mandarin term for "prince" or "king." It's not too surprising that many of the top surnames are Chinese, as China has one of the world's largest populations.
The data backs this up: The same Pew survey reported that 92% of men who married women kept their name, while only 5% took their wife's name. Walters said many consider the idea of a man taking a wife's name is “emasculating,” which shows how gender-based this tradition really is.
Not at all! A hyphenated last name etiquette is about personal choice and respect for both partners. It's a modern way to honor both families and create a shared identity.
When you marry, you are free to keep your name or take your new partner's name. But one thing is clear: it is your choice in most states. It comes down to a matter of preference and personal choice.
For example, if you're James and your surname is John, in writing your name, write James John not the other way round. All over the globe, the standard practice is: First name Middle name(s) if any Surname or Last Name However, if you write your surname first, always put comma so that readers can identify it as such.
Legal & Administrative Hurdles
Keeping your maiden name means you'll need to prove your marital status more often. For instance, if you're traveling with your spouse and your last names don't match, you might need to carry a marriage certificate to avoid issues.
Generally, there are no set rules or etiquette when it comes to deciding exactly how your hyphenated last name will read. 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.
There isn't one single "rarest last name" globally, as rarity changes by region, but some names are incredibly scarce, with examples including Pober, Mirren, Febland in England, Gambello (around 60 globally), and unique historical names like Marsvin (Danish noble, extinct male line) or names that have nearly vanished like Twelvetrees or Birdwhistle. Rarity often comes from geographic origins, recent migration, or names dying out, with some existing with only a handful of people.
So, that's the truth of it. But at the end of the day, you know, yes. My legal name is Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, but Sussex for us works as our family name and it's the name that we share with our children," Meghan said. "But yes, since we've been married, that's what I've been called," she added about her name now.
Her official surname is Mount Batton Windsor just like her husbands but we still call her by her maiden name Middleton.
The Oldest Family Trees
While the Confucius family tree carries the title of the biggest one, the Lurie family is known as the oldest one in the world. Its history traces back to 1037 BC. According to the records, the family lineage starts from the 3rd king of the United Monarchy of Israel and Judah called King David.
The Country is Iceland. If you have thought about a place that is not in Europe, because it is a rather unusual habit for the cultures of this continent, find out that there is a country where its inhabitants do not use their last name. Strange as it may sound, it is very true.
Mrs. is the proper title for a woman who was or is married, whether she has taken her spouse's last name or not. If you know the woman is married, Mrs. is the way to go.
Many women, men and non-binary folks decide to keep their maiden names once they tie the knot as they feel an inherent connection to that family lineage in their name or they don't believe in older patriarchal traditions.
In the Bible, there is a sense of headship in marriage (Ephesians 5:23,1 Corinthians 11:3,1 Corinthians 11:8-9, etc) and by taking a man's last name some would argue this is a form of headship and biblical submission.