Category talk:People who use their mother's surname

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[edit] Name of the category

In the US, and many other countries, if a woman takes her husband's surname it makes it her surname before, her birth name being referred to as a 'maiden name'. So George W. Bush has his mother Barbara Bush's surname. Who should be included in this category:

• People of married parents where both use the same surname who chose to use their mother's maiden name as their surname?
• People of married parents where both use the same surname who chose to use that surname? (which is an overwhelming majority practice in the US and Europe)
• People of married parents where mom & dad use different surnames, who chose to use their mother's surname?
• People of unmarried parents, father's identity known, who have different surnames, who chose to use their mother's rather than their father's?
• People of unmarried parents, father unknown, who use their mother's surname rather than make one up?

There are lots of other scenarios, but you get the drift. Carlossuarez46 19:29, 30 June 2006 (UTC)

Hi Carlos,

I had in mind all those who chose to take, or were given, their mother's birth surname, rather than their father's surname- regardless of whether the mother adopted her husband's surname. This is why I didn't use the term 'mother's maiden name'- it is too narrow a category and would exclude people like Frank O'Connor, whose mother adopted her husband's surname, O'Donovan, yet it cannot be said that his mother's surname, O Connor, is not his birthright as a surname. There is a firm distinction between those who take their mother's birth surname, and those who take a name unconnected to their family. In O'Connor's case he took his mother's surname having witnessed his father's abuse of her and this sort of thing emphasises the birthright aspect of this surname practice. His wasn't a pseudonym, but part of his birthright. This category is designed to make that distinction. Picasso, in contrast, loved his father but liked the sound of his mother's surname so used it. Again, that's his birthright. In Irish law, for instance, you have just as much right to use your mother's surname as you do your father's- provided you show your birthcert with that surname listed as her maiden name (regardless of whether she adopted her husband's surname). I would be surprised if this is not the case under US law also. Given this, all of those in the above categories who use their mother's surname- rather than the surname she adopted from her husband- would be placed in this category. I am talking about using the matrilineal surname in the sense of your surname being "related to or based on the maternal line' [1] rather than the definition of matrilineal which indicates a hereditary surname on the female line or an entire social order such as in Minangkabau. As such, and with this distinction made, maybe 'Persons who use matrilineal surnames' might be a better title? El Gringo 03:24, 1 July 2006 (UTC)

So, we've X-ed out the Bush example, but what about Eric Clapton, who was born in the UK under the "bastardy" laws of the time was not "entitled" to use his father's surname (no evidence that he would have wanted to, by the way), is he in or out?

Also, Alois Hitler, née Schicklgruber, also born illigitemate, had no "father's" name to take, so he (unremarkably) got his mom's. Also, we have to consider that most inhabitants of the Spanish & Portuguese speaking worlds use their mother's surnames (in addition to their fathers), see Iberian naming customs, which explains Picasso. Hope this helps, the category if narrowed and explained may be of some interest. I hope this can focus it. Carlossuarez46 04:56, 1 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Additions

There are many, many more to add to this. However, any suggestions for a better Category title are welcome. I was thinking 'People who took their mother's surname' instead as many of these people are dead. The shorter the better.