Would you ever consider changing your family name?
By koopharper
@koopharper (7601)
Canada
February 10, 2012 6:50am CST
I have an unusual family name and I would never consider changing it. It's different there is a lot of family history behind it and I'm proud of it. Now I've stumbled across last names that are not just unusual but down right weird or laughable. I assisted a fellow once on the phone with the last name Fryingpan. He wasn't putting me on either. The job I'm in requires that his identity be verifiable and he checked through the system with no problems. I've come across other names that in another language on not printable. If you had that sort of last name would you change it to something everyone would consider normal.
11 responses
@williamjisir (22819)
• China
31 Oct 12
I would not consider changing my family name even if it would be weird, I mean, if it should be so. Of course my family name is very normal. There are some family names that sound very weird. But I repect their family name all the way. Take care and thanks for the discussion.
1 person likes this
@jureathome (5361)
• Philippines
26 Apr 12
Yes, I would, if it was really awful and would lead me to lose self esteem. My maiden name was not that bad, but was often mispronounced, and as a teenager, it was embarrassing at times. However, I got over it when I was more mature, and in the real life, its not about your name, its about who you are deep within.
I do know a couple people who really paid lawyers to get their name changed.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7601)
• Canada
26 Apr 12
I don't know why but young people will always find something to pick at. My last name is not weird but it definitely is different. Most people where I grew up could not (or would no) pronounce it correctly. It bugged me when I was younger. I you I matured and got over it. I'm quite proud of my name and who I am at this point in my life.
I know people who have changed their names but I honestly cannot think of a single one of them who really had a good reason for doing so. It's okay by me though. Lawyers have to eat too.
@Porcospino (31365)
• Denmark
10 Feb 12
My ex-boyfriend's family name was very similar to the Danish word for toilet and when he was a child the other children laughed at his name and made fun of him because of his name. He when he became an adult he didn't change his name, but he often used his middle name instead of his family name. Before I got married I sometimes thought about changing my family name because it wasn't a very pretty name and I never really liked it. When I got married I got my husband's name and combined it with my own middle name.
@koopharper (7601)
• Canada
10 Feb 12
My name got made fun of all through school. It was a little too foreign for the locals. Too bad for them though. I'm still proud of my name. I'm named after my great grandfather and he didn't happen to be English.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
11 Feb 12
I can honestly say that I really don't care for my married last name and I didn't like my maiden name either. However, I think that despite the fact that I've never really been happy with my last names, I think that it would be very disrespectful to change my last name simply because of the fact that I didn't like it. It would be like I was denying my heritage.
So, unless there was some reason that I needed to hide from someone, I can't see any reason that I would change my last name because of what it was.
@koopharper (7601)
• Canada
11 Feb 12
Respect for those that have gone before is very important. I do know someone who took an English name on moving to Canada. It was similar to the first part of the name they had back in Poland. His reason for doing it was he wanted to start a business and worried that no one would do business with him. It did work out for him and his family as they did quite well. It isn't the issue now here as it was back then though.
@silence777 (121)
• Philippines
10 Feb 12
I've heard of this person whose last name literally means "newly raped".
He had a hard time in school because of it. It even discouraged him from finishing his studies.
If a thing like that affects your life, then I would consider changing it. Otherwise, it will not be necessary.
@koopharper (7601)
• Canada
10 Feb 12
That's the kind of name I was referring to. I think in that sort of case I would consider changing my name. Thankfully it isn't an issue I have to deal with.
@olliekobra1 (1825)
•
11 Feb 12
you should be proud of your family name because it makes a statement about who you are and as you rightly pointed out there is a lot of history behind it. Its down to the individual, actors and models change there names all of the time and no-one really cares when they do it so why shouldnt you be any different.
The only viable reason that i would want to change my name, would be if i didnt want to be associated with my current surname i.e if a member of my family committed a crime then i believe that it would be acceptable to change it.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7601)
• Canada
11 Feb 12
I don't think there is anyone who has maintained the last name Hitler. Granted there is a saying: You can choose your friends but not your relatives. Thankfully I don't have anyone that I know of in my ancestry that I need to be truly ashamed of.
@lampar (7584)
• United States
10 Feb 12
I have no intention of changing my family name yet, i am still quite fond of it, until i get tire of the name , then i change it to a normal one. But for now, it is a highly unusual name for me, so i want to keep it that way for a bit longer, doersn't matter to me what other people think of it, if they don't like it, they can go fly kite, it is perfectly fine with me. Cheer and happy mylotting, my friend!
@koopharper (7601)
• Canada
10 Feb 12
It is easier now as an adult to shrug it off when people make fun of my name. In fact, I don't just shrug it off, I find it all quite entertaining. I thought English speaking people struggled with my name until I moved to Quebec. French Canadians can't handle it at all.
@yanzalong (18987)
• Indonesia
10 Feb 12
It sometimes crosses my mind to change my family name but on second thought, I come off doing it. Actually, I don't use family name. My name is one word name. I have noticed many, even almost all, use family name.
@mingviva03 (127)
• Philippines
10 Feb 12
dear koopharper, our family name is our history, behind our family name is our family's good and bad stories. Even if it sounds bad or unusual, we should be proud of it..:)
@koopharper (7601)
• Canada
10 Feb 12
Not going to argue with you on that one. My family name has made it's mark in business and art that I know of. Lot of hard working farmers and laborers as well. I'm proud of my name. Yes a chunk of family history is lost forever because an ancestor lost his cool and torched a church. Did I mention we can be a little passionate in our opinions. Some of my ancestors are also suspected of being illegitimate as well. The only place on earth my family name is common is the little town we originated in that still bears our name. I agree be proud of your name.
@safety69 (592)
• Taiwan
10 Feb 12
I have a non very common family name in my country,but, I like it because is not that common, and is not weird , just a last name. I dont know if I had a weird lastname ,but, I think I wouldnt change it since it would be my father s lastname, I wont be ashame of it. Or maybe??? jajaajajj depends.....if is that awful.
@koopharper (7601)
• Canada
10 Feb 12
I'm proud of the name I have and my parents wore it proudly too. Some names though are just too far out there.
