Double-barrelling at a later point?

[skrumle]

Didn't want to derail another thread but it prompted me again about the fact that i'm seriously starting to consider double-barrelling my kids' names even though they're both older and at school.

both the kids are quite happy with the idea, my H not bothered but i'm just not sure whether it's worth the grief and they won't end up dropping my surname in future since it's not on birth certificates...

anyone else done this and got any tips??

If you're going to do it, you need to change it by deed poll otherwise it would be dropped in the future when applying for bank accounts, passports etc. FWIW when I was in primary school there was 2 children with double barrelled surnames, both dropped one name as soon as they were able to!

I just wouldn't do it. I've got a double barrelled name, which is dads's surname- mum's surname. It's a faff for everything like booking hotel rooms, tables, appointments. People mishear it all the time.
Also when I get married I'd like to be able to keep my own name, but I also want my entire family to have the same surname. But I can't be my-surname-hisname because that would be ridiculous. He likes his last name too so why should he get rid of it? So my parents got to be all equal and have both their names, but I have to take on his name really.
Hate double barrelled names!

It is completely normal for people with double-barreled names, where they have been the family name for some generations to use the last one as their 'everyday' surname and use the longer form for letters/banks etc.

If you're going to DB your children's names officially, as Rock says, you will need to change them by deed poll, or they will just be names they are known by.

Mine is officially double barrelled - but I use the "family" surname (my husband's surname which our children also have) when I need to simplify things.

I say give you children the option and expect them to drop one or the other as they get older. they may well choose your surname rather than your husbands as their primary name.

Auntfini - In cultures like Spain don't they keep on one name and drop the others. Could you keep one half of your double barrel and change the other bit.

I agree though, it's a 'one generation' solution.

Yes my Spanish friends told me that! I think that's a nice solution actually,but it's not for me. I can't separate the two names in my head, to me i am surname one- surname two and I wouldn't like to pick one of them.

thanks everyone - the spanish system was in my head for future generations. if needed...

will talk it over with my H and the kids while on holiday. keen to make a decision soon as i could then notify the schools at the start of term that they are now known-as.

I gave both dc's my maiden name as middle name, that way they can choose to use it or not. Having been given a double barrelled surname due to divorced parents I spent most of my childhood being called a snob. Then on the reverse, when older was considered pretentious at best or thought to be too posh to befriend....

that's partly what's brought this up T2T - they don't have my surname as a middle name because i was emotionally blackmailed by my MIL to give a family surname from her side to DD so then gave a family surname from my side to DS (but not my surname because at that point DD was a bit bothered about the fact she didn't have my name). and i still grudge it...

spoke to my H about it again last night, still not sure whether i'll do it or not. i kind of want to on principle but the thought of it does make me a bit waaah as i'm sure it will prompt LOTS of comments - my mother still finds it incomprehensible that i didn't change my name.