This overview presents the customs of European and North American countries regarding women’s surnames after marriage, highlighting when the preference shifted towards retaining the wife’s original surname.
In summary:
In most Countries the trend of women to keep their maiden surname (and the subsequent law reforms needed to enable it) emerged between the 1970s and 1990s.
Scandinavian countries and France were at the forefront of this shift, while Mediterranean and Eastern European countries followed during the 1990s, influenced by legal reforms and social changes.
A notable exception is Italy and Spain, where women have always legally retained their maiden surname. In Italy, however, it is still very frequent to use the husband’s surname in social events.
Europe
- United Kingdom:
Traditionally, women adopted their husband’s surname, but from the 1970s–1980s, feminist influences and professional reasons encouraged many to keep their maiden name. - France:
By law, women retain their maiden surname but may use their husband’s surname socially. Social preference for using the husband’s surname began to decline from the 1980s. - Germany:
Legal reforms from the 1990s made it easier to retain a maiden name or adopt a hyphenated surname. - Italy:
Legally, women retain their maiden name, though in sociali events it is still common to use the husband’s surname. This social expectation has lessened since the 1980s. - Spain:
Women traditionally do not change their surname after marriage. This practice remains unchanged. - Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland:
From the 1970s–1980s, legal changes supported the trend of women retaining their surname. - Poland:
While many women adopt their husband’s surname, there has been growing flexibility and acceptance of keeping the maiden name since the 1990s. - Greece:
A 1983 legal reform established that women retain their maiden name. However, the social use of the husband’s surname has been declining since the 1990s.
North America
- United States:
The traditional practice of adopting the husband’s surname began to shift from the 1970s–1980s, with more women choosing to keep their maiden name or adopt a hyphenated surname. - Canada:
In Quebec, a 1981 law requires women to retain their maiden name. In other provinces, the trend followed from the 1980s, influenced by feminist movements.