double barreled surname

[nugget05]

Just wondering when someone has a double barreled surname which is the name that most often gets ignored? So m-c would be m or c?

[Pebbles0934]

We are double barrelling our surnames and if you google or wiki it there are no rules.

However most of the time the last name is the fathers and is the main one apparently. Although, I would have thought the first one gets noticed more as it's where the child will be in the register at school? Maybe just my theory!

[Hassled]

In my DCs' case the second half gets ignored most by friends at school etc. So Smith-Jones has become Smithy, or Smith. With adults - it's fine, neither is ignored.

[kimlo]

In my experience its the second part of the name that gets dropped. Dd2s school had been really good about using the whole thing, but for some reason a couple of weeks agotthey suddenly dropped the second half. They have also never used the hyphen and that really annoys me for some reason, I dont know if im being unreasonable about that though.

I correct anyone who only uses half, but I had put my name first so that it would be the least likely to be left off.

[pinkgirlythoughts]

As a teacher, both names are generally used all the time, unless we get told otherwise. So in the example given above, Smith-Jones would always be said as Smithjones, as if it was all one long name, rather than dropping part of it. I teach infants though, so not sure if that remains true further up the school.

[Steelojames]

How odd that everyone drops the first part.
I have a double barreled last name and always drop the 1st if neccessary.
The 1st part completes the 2nd, and doesn't sound whole without it in my opinion.
In my family we all have the same last name and always use the 2nd and ignore the 1st when our names do not fit etc.

[gymboywalton]

we have a double barrelled name and neither part gets dropped. both parts get used all the time.

[RiojaHaze]

I have a double-barrelled name and the first gets dropped usually.

[5madthings]

Double barreled and neither gets dropped. They are first nname mysurname-dpssurname and if it gets shortened at all its to the first initials of each surname so say A-B.

Eldest is nearly 15 now and it has never been shortened.

[5madthings]

Ours is my name first then dps simply as it sounded better that way.

[losingmybelt]

Why do people choose double barrelled? What's the purpose?

[nugget05]

The purpose in my case losing is that me and my babies father are not together and I would like him to have my surname but think he should have his father's name as well so double barreled is best of both worlds

[Steelojames]

In my case, the name was passed down.
My great grandfather was called William Thompson for example.
When he died, his son (John Thomson) my grandfather took his dad's first name and added it to his last name out of respect and it became John William-Thompson.
It got passed down and just stuck!
It was to honour my great grandfather and we all use the double barreled name as is very important to us, we always use the full double barrel in all walks of live like other posters but cut the "William" on occasions and just use the original surname if you may.
I don't think many others have the same reasoning behind the double barrel.

[5madthings]

Dp and I aren't married, if we ever do get married I will keep my own name, the madthings have both names as they are part of both of us.

When they are older/get married/ have kids or whatever they can do what they want with names.

[Hakluyt]

Why would either get dropped? Their name has two parts- I would expect both to be used.

[WiggleGinger]

Secondary school teacher here & we wouldn't ever drop either part of a child's surname. Its their name no matter how many 'barrels' it has.

[Steelojames]

As a child it was never ignored as yes the two names are my last name however as an adult sometimes you find your name doesn't fit on forms as never enough room!!
Even on bank cards letters are missed out sometimes!

[MrsGSR]

losing my dh's (and now my) surname has been double barreled for generations, over 100 years. The original name, although very common in England now, was from a country that there was a lot of prejudice against at the time and they found it hard to get work. They snuck the other name into the next generation as a middle name for forms and it eventually became double barreled. I love the history of it.
Neither part is dropped, occasionally a delivery man or cold caller will only hear one name but it can be either. If it's anything official I correct them.

[losingmybelt]

Thanks! I'd always wondered what the reasoning was.