Children Receiving Mother's Name.

[screaming--pink.livejournal.com]

I remember reading somewhere that children traditionally were automatically given the surname of the mother.. stemming from Peasant/Noble times. Does this sound familiar to anybody? If I'm wrong, let me know, too. I just know I've heard something at some point or another that goes against traditional belief in society about a child having the father's last name.

ETA: I'm referring mostly to cases where the mother is unwed/kept her maiden name/has a different last name than the father.

Comments

[screaming--pink.livejournal.com]

That is exactly where this post is coming from, haha. I am pregnant and although the father left me at 15 weeks, he thinks that my baby should still have HIS last name because "A boy should carry his father's name." The child will live with me and I will have full custody [baby-daddy lives in a completely different state 10 hours away now] and I am not going to have a different last name than my child. If I happen to marry him in the future and change my name, then our son will also change his. I just know I heard somewhere that children weren't originally given the father's name automatically. Similarly, the mother's are given the birth certificate to fill out regardless of whether or not the father/husband is present. I know he'll never agree with me [still thinks I should give the baby HIS first name, as well] I just know I've heard somewhere that giving the children the father's name was a somewhat modern trend.

[selador.livejournal.com]

using "it's tradition!" in an argument is a fallacy. Unless he plans on taking his son to the doctors and everything else it just makes more sense to have the child in your last name. If I had been pregnant with a boy I know Jerrod would not of given up the battle. if it comes to it just don't let him sign anything, keep him away from your recovery room (or home if you're doing the homebirth thing). You have valid reasons, he doesn't.

My mom did the same thing with me. I lived with her so I had her last name. When I was 3 my parents got married and they changed my last name... no big deal.

[lizziey.livejournal.com]

Its actually easier (and I have seen MANY people do this) to have the husband convert to your last name instead.

For the baby to carry your husbands name, you would have to go through the whole "get parental righst from birth-father, go to court, pay billion fees, etc etc etc". I know several men who instead took teh last name of their wife and new child. :)

[ewaeva.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry, but what the fuck is he thinking??? He left you and will be living far away from his child. He has absolutely NO RIGHT to say ANYTHING about what your baby's name will be. And to ask you to give the baby his first name - that is just ridiculous.

Sorry. This made me mad. I agree with you. And you don't have to have historical reasons and arguments for giving the baby your last name. You're raising him, he's living with you, the father up and left, for crying out loud. You don't need any more reasons than that.

Having said that, yeah, it was normal for kids of unmarried mothers to have their mother's last name. Probably because the father often didn't acknowledge the child as his.

[screaming--pink.livejournal.com]

Oh, he'd have a better chance arguing with a brick wall when it comes to me giving this child his last name. ;]

I think the original story I heard sounded like that. Where Noblemen would sleep with Peasant women and when they ended up pregnant, they did not want a child "unworthy" of their status being affiliated with their last name. And, considering it was a time without paternity testing, it was quite easy for them to deny their spawn. But, there was little question as to which woman the baby popped out of - which is why the children would be given her name.