Changing your name

t0mm

This might not be the right place for this, sorry to mods if its not, but I want to find out about changing my name (legally).

I have no problems with my current name, and in fact I want to keep it, and just add on my mother's maden name to make my surname double-barreled.

The reason I want to this is so that my mother's family name doesn't die out. We are the first line of a long standing Hiberno-Norman family, but recently the line has ended in a succession of girls. While there is a chance the name could continue, the chances are unlikely, and I would like to keep the first line continuing, even if it is in double-barrelled form. My father's family name died out, but was revived by a grandson of the last person to have it in a similar manner, making it double barrelled, later shortened to just the name that had died out. I have spoken to my family about it, and they don't mind, even though some find it a bit silly. I study history and know how important the continuation of family lines are, and have thought long and hard for several years about this.

So how does one do this? I know I can't just change it, there must be legal channels to follow. Any help appriciated.

CDfm

You can change your name or use whatever name you want and it is not illegal to do so provided there is no intent to commit a crime.

To change your name legally is called Change of Name by Deed Poll and here is a Citizens Information link on how to do the Deed and where to go.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/birth-family-relationships/problems-in-marriages-and-relationships/changing_your_name_by_deed_poll

Pherekydes

If you have both surnames on your birth cert you can use any combination of the two.

You don't need to do it by deed poll.

LegacyUser

As was said above, you don't need to do it by deed poll. Your mother's name is already your legal name assuming it is on your birthcert. Plenty of people just use their mother's surname. I'm one of them. Frank O'Connor (Frank O'Connor O'Donovan), the writer, was another, Jonathan Rhys Myers (Jonathan Myers O'Keefe) another, Pete McCarthy (Peter McCarthy Robinson), the travel writer, another. Historically, it has not been uncommon, particularly when an estate was being handed down to the son of a female heir and the son would be requested to continue his mother's name as the condition of receiving the estate. The Nugents of Ballinlough are a case in point; Hugh O'Reilly had to become Hugh Nugent to receive his maternal grandfather's estate.

I just brought my birthcert down to the garda station and they checked it and signed it off on the passport form. Now my passport and driving licence are both under my mother's rather than my father's surname. Putting both your Mam's and your Dad's name on both documents should be just as easy.

Das Kitty

All you have to do is just start using it.

Once you've been using it for two years you can submit evidence of this and get it on your passport.

If you want to pass the name on to your kids all you have to do is for you or your partner (I don't know if you're male or female, but I'm talking about the mother) to get your maternity care done with your mother's maiden name and the birth cert will have the surname of the mother on it for the child.

It's quite lax in this country, you can call yourself what ever you like and it will become official after 2 years! I know a guy called John McDonagh, and his passport says Seánín Sheáin Jimmy....

CDfm

Surnames are a very recent thing and I suppose they were the original ID cards.

I know this isnt PC but people with different family names than their Dads has social implications and while someone may not say it to your face could be offended.

Now - where was that family tree CD Saxe-Coburg-Gotha - it could work.

Polleta

I have both of my parents name double barelled. My mother does too but my dad just has his own name. My friends think it is odd to have two surnames in the house but it is normal for us. Its been that way for us since birth.

You can just as was said write your name out from birth cert with both and have your passport and drivers license in your double barelled name straight away.

I don't think the social stigma applies here as he is just adding his mothers name?! His dad's name will still be there. I can't really see it being a social stigma either as realistically it would only be your neighbours and friends who would realised you had a different surname and in this day and age in my opinion it would be small minded to care.

CDfm

Polleta wrote: »

I have both of my parents name double barelled. My mother does too but my dad just has his own name. My friends think it is odd to have two surnames in the house but it is normal for us. Its been that way for us since birth. ...............I can't really see it being a social stigma either as realistically it would only be your neighbours and friends who would realised you had a different surname and in this day and age in my opinion it would be small minded to care.

There is absolutely nothing illegal about it and I just brought up the social stigma bit as the OP sounds like they dont want to offend anybody.

It seems easier than changing a Username on boards.

t0mm

I've talked to my family and they don't mind. I was just didn't want to get in trouble for having one name on one thing and a different name on another. So all I have to do is change my facebook profile name, get it changed in my college's data base, and any forms, etc I just put it double barrelled? Sounds pretty easy!

Das Kitty

Ask your bank as well about getting it on your statements and cards.

I'm currently half way through changing mine so I have a Driver's license in one name and my passport in the other. Hasn't caused me any trouble yet anyway.

CDfm

Das Kitty wrote: »

Hasn't caused me any trouble yet anyway.

Really Das-Kitty