If you gave your DC your surname even though married ...

[saladroll]

Can I ask what were your reasons? And have you had any problems? Do you know if many women do this these days?

To anyone who gave their surname purely out of choice, are you and your DH still happy with your decision? Did you give your DHs surname as a middle name?

We are considering this and I am keen on the idea but it still seems strange IYSWIM!

No I haven't and couldn't really see why you would (interested in your reasons for doing so).

I'm not married and our boys have DP's surname. The practical issue for me has been when travelling with the just the boys and I've had to produce their full birth certificates to explain the surname difference. DP didn't have that problem although legally he doesn't have Parental Responsibility for the eldest (12years old. Born before the rules changed in Dec 2003).

I think that it could generally cause problems for your DH if the children don't have his surname. Mothers get automatic PR when their children are born and no one would question you when agreeing to medical treatment etc etc if the children had different surnames to you. However it might be more of an issue if your DH turned up at hospital and didn't have the same surname as the child requiring treatment as he may have prove he had PR before they would carry out some treatments.

DP did have to take our eldest to hospital in an emergency situation and he was never asked once about PR although he didn't have it. They must just have assumed because our son has DP's surname (and looks the spitting image of his Dad!)

Dexterthecat, why can't you see why anyone would? We did it because my surname is nicer. Simple as that. Who cares what people think?

And he has never had any problems taking DCs to the doctors or hospital etc. Thats just a myth

I'm not quite your target as I had my mums name (feminist reasons!). It never caused any issues as far I'm aware, I will ask when dad comes round tonight for fathers day dinner!

DH and I have different surnames, our kids have his. We usually say because of paternity not being as obvious as maternity, however a big factor was his is easy to learn to spell and okay, mine is much harder to learn to spell. They have mine as a middle name. There have been no problems for either of us (except I sometimes am addressed as Mrs DH's name). We gave them mine as a middle so they can double barrel later if they want.

giving dh surname as middle name doesnt confer surname status or recognition
if you want both names you need to register both surnames
if you chose your name as surname,up to you

the pr stuff cited that is not the case,prior to treatments etc gp,nhs etc will establish who is whom and its not dependent upon surnames

In an emergency situation a hospital don't need any kind of parental consent so it's irrelevant for that. My dc have my surname. Why shouldn't they? Exh and I are now divorced but as I'm the resident parent I'm very glad they do have my name.

Swedish that was unnecessarily aggressive. I also didn't say that I cared what anyone would think but I do think it's another step to try and enforce the modern view that mothers are the more important parent.

My friend is planning to do this... maybe it is you!

Anyway their (i.e. as a couple) reasons are:

Why not?
His name is very unusual and he gets sick of repeating it/spelling it.
And.. why not?

She prefers her name and usually gets what she wants!

dexter I didn't think swedish's response was aggressive given your original statement. It's nothing to do with who is the 'most important parent' altho I really can't understand why women who aren't married seem to automatically give their DC the father's name so they are the odd one out, but that's a whole separate thread.

We are married and gave our DC both surnames. In day to day life we all (incl DH) use my name, but they legally have both. They can make their own decisions when they have their own families.

In answer to the OP far more people do this now than when I had DC1 26 years ago. My name is more unusual and most/ all people with the name are related to my family. His is quite common, and he has 2 brothers and 4 nephews so his line isn't going to die out.