Comments on: Double-barrelled surnames: A changing tradition

By: Hall of Names

Hall of Names — Mon, 19 May 2025 07:47:05 +0000

In reply to Hall of Names. Hello, Some of these topics are covered in our blog post itself...The term itself first became popular in Victorian times, although the tradition of combining two names began much earlier. It's all fascinating stuff!

By: IT Telkom

IT Telkom — Sat, 17 May 2025 07:15:03 +0000

In reply to IT Telkom. What is the early history of the double-barrelled surname tradition and what is its significance in the context of social status in the past?

By: Rebecca Koblick

Rebecca Koblick — Sun, 03 Jan 2021 21:31:41 +0000

Greetings from an American reader! A great article, but you do get something wrong about Mrs. Clinton and Mrs. West. They have not combined surnames, but rather use their maiden names as middle names. This is a traditional American practice: my mother did it, and likewise Mercy Otis Warren, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Florence Prag Kahn, Oveta Culp Hobby, Marian Wright Edelman, and countless others. Combining surnames without a hyphen is unknown in American culture; unfortunately, the New York Times has taken to pretending otherwise.