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Jim wrote:

Dear Mike,

  • Do you know the origin of the custom of women taking on their husband's name when they get married?

Thanks,

Jim

  { What is the origin of women taking on their husband's last name when they marry? }

Mike replied:

Hi Jim,

Maybe my colleagues can supply some more insight but to my knowledge, up until:

  • the breakdown of the modern Christian family life, fueled by
  • the lack of Christian catechesis in America

married women have always taken their husband's last name.

Our Lord says Himself in the Scriptures:

The two shall become one, not the two shall become hyphenated.

(Mark 10:8, Ephesians 5:31, Genesis 2:24)

My personal opinion is that when married women use two last names, it implicitly reflects poorly on their view of the importance of marriage in relationship to their career or any other related issue, but that's just my opinion.

Mike

Jim replied:

Thanks Mike,

Jim
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