Trends in the Double-Barrelled Surname
So, why are so many opting to double barrel their surnames? The trend of combining surnames kicked off in the Victorian era so that the wealthy or noble families could preserve and honour their original family names, heritage, social standing or familial lineage.
Today, the reasons are much more broad. Some chose the combination of surnames to support gender equality while others may not want “lose one’s life-long identity.” Some want to signify the blending of two families and others are keen to preserve a maiden name for a myriad of professional reasons. Many couples opt to combine surnames to take an “equal approach” when combining families so that their children will have a little piece of both parent’s history. And sometimes, a double-barrelled surname just simply sounds better! The reasons are plentiful and unique to each individual or couple who choose to double up their names.
The Double Barrel Surname in Real Life: We spoke to five of our couples who shared their story
Hannah’s Story
Hannah Swain chose to change her name to Hannah Swain-Evans to save “completely wiping away and losing the name [she’d] had since birth”. Her husband chose not to change his name. Hannah says, “I didn’t ask him to and didn’t mind at all.”
Hannah says that her friends “were very unbothered” by her decision which she feels is due to double barrelling now being “something quite usual for our generation.” Her mother, on the other hand, wasn’t quite as convinced and raised questions about what surnames the couple’s children will have.
However, Hannah says she’s happy to wait and see and has suggested that their kids could initially take the double barrel then pick their favourite surname when they’re older if they wish to.
Craig’s Story
When Craig Mitchell-Wheadon got married, he and his fiancée wanted to tie both of their family names together “to form our new family.” As it was Craig’s second marriage, he was keen to make the partnership feel “different and unique.”
This “unique connection” has gone down particularly well with the couple’s friends and family, and Craig feels that it “really highlights the coming together of two people into a partnership sharing both their histories in one combined way”.
Credit Valerie Stewart Howard
Val’s Story
Val Stewart Howard chose to keep her name along with her new husband’s surname, although her new surname is not joined with a hyphen.
Her main reason for going with both names was to “unite two warring families from legions ago.” It also allowed her to keep her father’s name in her married name.
Although her partner chose to stick with his birth surname for professional reasons, any confusion that people encounter when addressing the couple doesn’t faze Val, who says that “I will answer to whatever people call me – providing it’s polite!”
Credit Penny Browning Perry
Penny’s Story
Penny Browning Perry has two reasons for joining her name with her husband’s. She says that getting married later in life meant that she had a greater affiliation with her own surname. Plus, she was concerned that taking only her partner’s name meant that her new name (Penny Perry) would prove to be “a bit of a tongue twister.”
Like Val, Penny decided not to hyphenate both names and took advantage of NameSwitch’s Print Package (which she kindly describes as a “brilliant service”) to make the process easier.
Credit Lucy Wallace Photography
Dami’s Story
Dami and his wife both chose to combine their two surnames and are now known as Mr & Mrs Bakare-Kennett. The mutual agreement allowed his wife to retain her identity. Although Dami says that his family weren’t too keen on the idea initially for traditional reasons, the couple are very happy to share a double-barrelled name.
How to Get a Double-Barrelled Surname UK
As the UK’s favourite name changing service, we’re often asked by those wishing to adopt a double-barrelled surname after marriage if they need a deed poll. The good news is that you don’t! Your marriage certificate entitles either yourself and/or your partner to combine your surnames side-by-side (e.g. Jones-Smith) in whichever order you prefer, with or without a hyphen.
We strongly recommend that you order 2-4 original copies of your marriage certificate (£12.50 each) for each partner that wishes to be known by a double barrel to enable multiple name-change requests to be sent off in parallel.
Now, if you wish to use a deed poll in lieu of a marriage certificate/civil partnership certificate to double barrel your names, that is completely fine as well. Some couples opt to go down this route, finding our Deed Poll Premium Print bundle to be more cost & time effective.
You will need a deed poll if you want to mesh or blend your surnames into one. Whether you are doing the traditional Miss to Mrs, opting for a double barrel or going all out and creating a new name, NameSwitch’s name change service has got you covered. Why not check out our range of packages and let us help you fast-track to your next chapter.
Double Barrel Surnames: Name Change FAQ’s
Do I have to have gotten married to double barrel my surname?
You do not! Married or not, you can absolutely double-barrel your surname. As you would not have a marriage/civil partnership certificate, you would need to change your name via deed poll. For more information on a deed poll name change check out our helpful guide.
Can I change my double-barrelled surname back after divorce?
Absolutely. And this is something that we see often. Divorce is a massive life event and if you are interested in dropping the double-barrel or changing your name after divorce, you just need to have your decree absolute or final order, stamped from the court in order to make this happen. (You can also do this via deed poll if you prefer).
Would double-barrelling my name help me professionally?
This is completely up to each individual! Some may choose to double-barrel their surname to uphold a professional reputation, to preserve continuity, or even to stand out. However, there is no right or wrong way to go here and each person’s career and personal preferences are unique.
Do I need a deed poll to double-barrel my surname?
You do not need a deed poll if you have a marriage/civil partnership certificate. You also have the option to double-barrel using a deed poll if you prefer. If you are planning blend or “mesh” your names to form a brand-new name, or make changes to your first/middle names, you will need a deed poll for that.
Does it matter which name goes first?
It makes no difference whatsoever which name appears first in a double barrel or whether it’s a hyphenated or unhyphenated double-barrelled name. You can put your last name first or your partner’s - It is completely up to you! But as always, consistency is key!
Can I make my original surname a middle name?
Indeed you can. This is a common practice that we are seeing more and more of. You would need to change your name by deed poll to achieve this. Why not check out our UK deed poll service to make the name change.
Are you ready to start the name change journey? If you’re looking to create a new surname by doubling upf yours’s and your partner’s last name, or even triple or quadrupling up, we have got you covered. Regardless of what type of name change you are looking for, if you want to change your name with ease, let NameSwitch help - we promise to take the hassle out of the process and get you on track with your new name in 3 easy steps!
