To Want To Change (Shorten) Our Surname?

[DrillHammerChisel]

We (me, DH & the DC) all have the same surname - when I married DH I took his, willingly. I wanted to and am quite traditional and I didn't think much of it... even though it is an unusual and quite comical name!
I'm now having slight second thoughts, mainly because everyone spells it wrong and I'm sick of correcting people! It is also quite long (3 syllables) and like I said, is rather amusing to some.
Think along the lines of Longbottom.
AIBU to change it (for all of us)? I'd basically just shorten it - so we'd be the Long family instead of the Longbottom family.
Would this be an odd thing to do? Do you know anyone that has done similar? What are your thoughts?
DC are all primary aged if that makes a difference.
Thank you!

Do it!

My dd has changed her name and there"s an awkward period where you are legally "long" but need to do a whole lot of admin with banks/passports etc but you get it done

People may find it easier to remember you with your surname.
I wouldn't change it. Shorten it if you must. You were happy to change to it so why now decide you all must change?
If your dh and kids are happy let them keep the name until they want to change it. You could meanwhile just shorten yours. Be really sure what your dh wants. Many families like their names and can trace back and feel a sense of history and attachment.
Dh would be mortified if I suggested this.
Our address is dire and no one can either pronounce or spell it.
Our surname is shortish and straightforward yet we have had it spelt in more ways than imagined. So even Long could be spelt Longe Lonng Longg Lonngge. Short names does not mean they will be spelt right.
Talk to your dh before you act.

@FWBNC

None of us could understand why our married friend had taken her husbands name, (something like longbottom) until she said her maiden name was Hiscock.

It all made perfect sense, though a whole new name might have been a better option!

HisBottom-longcock Poor woman! Id just pick one i liked She's earned it

I used to know a Longbottom family when I was a child and even then I didn't really think about it potentially being funny - is it possible you're overthinking this?

You were happy to change to it so why now decide you all must change?

It's only once you've lived with a "humorous" name for a while that you realise how tiresome it is.

[quote Snoozer11]@Hoppinggreen Tittle?[/quote]
Yep

I know a family whose surname is Gaye and they've registered their children as Graye just to avoid the endless teasing.

Thats an easy change

Personally I’d find it a hassle to change. But it it makes you and your family happy that’s fine.

I have a foreign name and have to spell it often. My name is actually an inherited spelling mistake - but easier to spell than the original. Personally I would think it’s a bit odd someone changing their name to shorten it (assuming not triple barrelled or something). If one of the kids/grandkids was interested in ancestry might make it harder; but whatever makes you happy - good luck!

Whenyou register ababy can yougive it a new sur name? Not the mothers or the father's?

I vote to change. I grew up with an 'amusing' name and was delighted to get rid of it in a socially acceptable way when I got married.

I definitely would have changed mine by deed poll by now though if I hadn't got married no matter what family members it may have offended.

I changed to a much easier name on marriage, so it life is so much better without get your name taken the piss out of and having to spell it all the time.

@ManifestingJoy

Whenyou register ababy can yougive it a new sur name? Not the mothers or the father's?

Yes.

@DrillHammerChisel

I wouldn't say it was a deeply silly decision, I guess I just didn't think enough about it. Like I said, I'm traditional and it's tradition to take your husband's name. I didn't think much past that (rightly or wrongly).

I wouldn't go back to my maiden name, I'm not overly enamoured with that either, and I think going for a shortened version of the current name is a good compromise and less hassle (it would sound very similar).

Don't think my DH has strong opinions either way, to him it's just a name.

I don’t understand how women can actively perpetuate this hideous and sexist “tradition” (its a huge amount of admin) without a second thought.

This is interesting because I've often wanted to ask people who have changed their name to something that sounds rude or silly why on earth they did it, and why they saddled their children with it. I still don't quite get it, you just didn't think about it? But it's your name? And it's so much hassle to change, it's not like it happened by accident.

Fix this mistake and change your and dcs names asap.

I think some people think that when you get married you must take your husbands name, my best friend certainly did, she was surprised i kept my own name as she honestly believed it was law to take his.

We used to know a Bratt family that changed to Brett. I say go for it.

Of course for centuries- so many refugees changed their names to avoid endless spelling and explanations. Frederik Austerlitz wouldn’t have had the success of Fred Astaire! If you’re all happy to do it then why on Earth not

Thanks for all the replies. It's interesting to see people's differing points of view.
Some saying change it... others saying don't - and maybe I am overthinking it...
I guess when I originally changed it (when I got married), I didn't realise how much I'd have to spell it out or how many comments I'd have on it. And I suppose as I'm getting older, there are more situations were people say 'Mrs Longbottom' and it just makes me squirm a little!! Probably daft I know.
Sometimes I tell myself it's just a name... other times I tell myself it's MY name and that is important...

I think it is just silly to change from a family name that has meaning and history to a name that means nothing.

If you as an adult get tired of the comedy / squirm worthy responses, think of your kids entering secondary.

They have a lifetime of this.

I think your plan is a good one OP.

But if you haven’t discussed it with your DH yet you might be surprised how much resistance you meet.

I knew a family with the surname "Rape". The girl married the day after she turned 16 and stayed married for six weeks. Then filed for divorce and kept her married name. She came back to school that fall with a new surname and graduated with that name. Every girl in school understood.

Change it if you want to. I don't see why not. And the sooner the better or it becomes harder to unpick!

@PrincessNutella

I think it is just silly to change from a family name that has meaning and history to a name that means nothing.

Even if your surname is Ramsbottom and you don't know or care about its history??

@TreeSmuggler

This is interesting because I've often wanted to ask people who have changed their name to something that sounds rude or silly why on earth they did it, and why they saddled their children with it. I still don't quite get it, you just didn't think about it? But it's your name? And it's so much hassle to change, it's not like it happened by accident.

Fix this mistake and change your and dcs names asap.

Who changes their name from a normal name to a silly one??

My dd 18 has changed her name to mine and the worst you could say about my name is that it isnt aristocratic. Ends in er. Her father's name was a notable name in those circles but she doesnt care. She wanted my last name.

She/I are tackling the admin now. She is just focused on college registration. Passport and bank are the main ones.

Its a bit of admin hassle yes but when its done its done.

I know a family of Robottoms and i cannot understand why they dont change it to robertson.