Why do women change their last names after they're married?

Answer 1

Favourite answer

When a woman marries she becomes part of her husbands family. In old school terms she stops being her father's property and becomes her husband's. It's a tradition that not all women follow now. Now it's usually so she and the kids have the same last names and it doesn't get confusing. It's a personal choice. 

Answer 2

They probably think they'll get out of their credit card debts if they change their names.

Answer 3

Originally, it was so the family all had the same last name as the man and the state knew where to direct the bills, and who to hold accountable - should it become necessary to hold anyone accountable. The man was held responsible for the family - the good and the bad

Answer 4

It's an history thing. Not a religion thing. In the past, the ruling class had marriage alliances. It's an alliance between 2 families or clans upon marriage. As you should know in politics backstabbing is very common. Nobody wants the daughter of a competitive family to spy on them feeding their plans to her father and her birth family.

So the woman gives up her family name and takes on the family name of her husband. To show that she's now devoted to her new family. The family of her husband. 

Answer 5

it's a trippy tradition of the christian church