Did you give your DC two surnames? Question about birth certificate.

[starsinthesky]

We are planning to give our DD both our surnames but only use one on a day to day basis. The other will be there because we both want to pass on our surname. Has anyone else passed on both their names with the intention of only using one or did you double barrel and use both day to day?

I'm asking as we don't know if to just put one name in the 'surname' box on the birth cert or both. If we put both, does the first one, in effect become a middle name. That is probably what we're looking for. I'm not a fan of over elaborate names and don't want things to be complicated for DD.

I think if you want your DD to be know as X yoursurname-hissurname then double-barrel with hyphen. If you want her to just be X onesurname then I would put the other as a second middle name, so both are official there but only one used.

Why don't you just use it as a middle name on the birth certificate in the first place?

I think if you put both in the surname box they would assume it's a double barrelled surname. Sounds like you want to put one surname in the middle name box (but whose? )

I think the issue will be the fact that you say you both wish to pass on your surnames, but that only one will be used on a day-to-day basis - I'm presuming you've already agreed as to which one. If you put both surnames in the 'surname' box, then you will both be passing on your names and I guess at school you could ask for your child to be known as DC 'x' rather than 'x x'.

I think the problem with putting one of your surnames as a middle name is that the only time they are mentioned is when you are filling in forms - there's a chance that this name will be dropped for the following generation, and then one name hasn't really been passed on at all. My dad was given a surname as a middle name - he never uses it and it wasn't passed on to me and my siblings.

Shriekable since they have a daughter, I suspect it's actually more likely the surname will be dropped (if she marries and takes the traditional route) than the middle name ...

True, but then I've kept my original name even though i'm married, and one of my sisters has returned to her original name since divorce. And realistically, what is the chance of a middle name being passed on? Even if you claim it's a 'family name', your partner needs to be agreeable to it. I still reckon that middle names are pretty much redundant.

Yes I've kept my surname too.

I have my mum's surname as a middle name (it is also my gran's surname). If I have a daughter she will get that name as a middle name so as to carry on the tradition. If I have a son he will get my surname (i.e. my dad's surname) as a middle name.

DH won the toss and so either a daughter or a son will have his surname as a surname.

Absolutely nothing complicated in double barrelled lat nmes, honestly. Go for it. Otherwise the one you don't use will just vanish.

Realistically if you give your daughter two surnames, then at least one of the surnames you've given her is not going to make it through to your grandchildren.

She is unlikely to give her child three surnames (ie both hers plus the father's surname). Chances are, they will either get their father's surname or their father's surname plus one of her surnames.

This applies whether you use your surnames as a double barrelled surname or as one middle name and one surname.

The use of a surname as a middle name is nice. There is a name in DH's family that has been used twice since his great great great grandmother had it as her maiden name. It was key in being able to trace his family history. Its a point of interest and even if the name isn't eventually passed on, it makes it a lot easier to trace families trees and work out family relationships. Its a heritage that leaves an odd sort of legacy even if it only lasts two or three generations.

We did what you're thinking of - both surnames in surname box and not double-barrelled. For all official purposes, we've just told people x xx to be know as x x. It can get complicated though - the surname is official so cannot be excluded when filling in forms, whereas using your middle name is often optional. So, it might get more awkward for your child later ie they may get a bit pissed off with your right-onness but it is a way around not double-barrelling but feeling all equal about the names.

DS1 has my family name as his 3rd middle name, then his Dad's family name as his surname.

DS2 will have the same (different Dad's though)

My family name will be their link

Badgerina- is there a reason why they don't have your name as their last name? Surely that's more logical? You are the "common" parent. So Fred Smith Badgerina and George jones Badgerina. Rather than Fred Badgerina Smith and George Badgerina Jones.

I would have thought that might be because when she had DS1 she wasn't planning on splitting with his father... its more logical to name DS2 in keeping with DS1.

DD has both our surnames. As do I. My surname first, then DH's. No hyphen. I use both, and so will she. :)

Not a surname but those asking about the chances of a middle name being passed on - my DS has a middle name that has been passed down the male line of my DHs family for 5 generations now

We did that, no problems at all. In the birth certificate it says "Name: John / Family name: Smith Jones" No hyphen, no middle name.

It's a bit of a PITA for forms and stuff, as most people in the UK are not used to that. But I didn't change my name and wanted to give DS my family name. It's how it's done back home and in several other countries, like Portugal and Spain for example.

Thankfully, the UK is a civilized place that let's you do whatever you want with the names (unlike Germany and Italy for example).

Use one as a middle name, as we did.

My dc have both our surnames. We are not married and probably never will be.
Their full surname is used.
I grew up with a different surname to my mum and hated it.
(father left, mum remarried when I was 3)
Always felt that she ' belonged' more to my sdad than me.
Don't care what name they choose as adults, but my dc have my name and I never have to explain, that yes, they are my dc.
Hope that nakes sense.