Re: Spousal names (Was: Re: "Mister" (was: Re: New Lang: Igassik))

On Thu, 26 Oct 2000, Carlos Thompson wrote:

> Yown Ha Ley wabbe:
>
> > <sniff>  I would if he'd adopt a Korean name.  Make it
> > easier on my poor Korean relatives who can't at all
> > pronounce "Betzwieser," as opposed to his relatives,
> > who have no problem with "Yoon" or "Lee."  I see no
> > reason to have to take someone else's name entirely
> > if it's not reciprocal.  One of my HS classmates didn't
> > understand me, because she thought taking a husband's
> > name was "romantic" (and there's nothing wrong with
> > that POV if you don't try to force it one me).
>
> Well.  I would love if my fiancee keeps her surname.  But she insists
> in changing hers.  At least I hope she will became Luz Beatriz
> Thompson and not L. B. *de* Thompson... ("de" = of)  I don't know if I
> will succeed.
<wry g>

> Some twenty years ago, in Colombia, female spouses had to change their
> name.  My fiancee is called Luz Beatriz Baquero Cerón, with _Baquero_
> as her father's surname and _Cerón_ her mother's.  I am Carlos Eugenio
> Thompson Pinzón, with _Thompson_ from my father and _Pinzón_ from my
> mother.  She would have become Luz Beatriz Baquero de Thompson, as my
> mother is Liria Ruth Pinzón de Thompson, and my grand mother is Ana
> García viuda de Thompson, as stated in her citizenship card.  ("viuda
> de" = widow from)
It's difficult to focus on this discussion--no offense at all
intended--because you're showing me some very, very beautiful names!
:-)  I only wish my own name were so lyrical.

> Now spouses don't have to change their name, nor widowers have to add
> the "viuda" word, but most women do, at least in social situations,
> probably not in the civil registry.
<nod>  I *believe* that in the U.S. a wife is not legally required to
take her husband's name, but a) a lot of people don't know this and b)
most would probably do so out of tradition anyway.  My own family's
tradition just happens to be different.  =^)

My boyfriend claims his Oma (the German-side grandmother) would kill him
if he gave up "Betzwieser."  <laugh>

> Hangkerimians formal civil name consist in a given name (given by the
> father) and a family name (inherited from the mother) and that name
> doesn't change.  Adults have also a social name, which consist in the
Another nice system!  Divide the naming responsibility....

I would complain about my bf's family: One grandfather is Charles, the
father is Albert Joseph (?), boyfriend himself is Joseph Charles,
boyfriend's younger brother is Albert James...but then, my mom is Ok Seon
with sisters Ok Kyung, Ok Ju, etc. and I'm a Yoon Ha with younger sister
Yune (pronounced same as Yoon) Kyung.

God forbid I would *ever* subject any of my kids, if I had any, to that
sort of confusion!  I'm bad enough with names as it stands.  =^)  (Not to
mention III's and Jr.'s, which must be confusing too.)

YHL