changing Surname

I had an interesting conversation with my father the other day.

He is considering changing his surname. He was adopted by his stepfather when he was 7. He never knew his real father. He thought about hyphening his names but he feels he would like to just change it all together. Do you think there is too much of a connection with a "family" name to just change or do you feel that one should be abble to choose their own with their own meaning behind it?
As he said. It's hard to carry a family name when you don't have blood ties to one or memory of the other.

Sorry if I don't make sense. I'm still trying to take it all in.

 

I don’t think you necessarily need to have blood ties to feel a connection to a family or family name but that’s really another issue. I think a persons name is very personal and they should have the right to change it but it could be hurtful to people who may think that a person is losing their connection to them if they change the name they share. I don’t know if you have your fathers surname but if you do does this make you feel he is somehow severing his connection with you?

My mum didn’t change her name when she got divorced because she didn’t want a different name to her children but one of my brothers has since changed his which offended a few family members although I know he did not mean it as an affront to them.

 

I do have the same Surname as my dad. Personally Just the fact he & my Mum gave me life is enough to feel connected.
I think is some ways he wan't to honor his BirthFather but how does one do that without hurting the other.
I agree with you. blood isn't the only thing that connects us.

 

Yes, He has two uncles he knew his whole life.
I sugested (morbid as it may sound) that when he passes have his adopted fathrs name and birth fathers name on his stone That would be a nice choice..no?

 

Basically, He wan'ts to be able to honour his stepfather (who raised him keeping his name) & his Birth father (attaching it to his).