United States Matronymic

due diversity of family structures in united states, considerable variation in naming patterns has emerged, despite fact traditional, patrilineal naming practices still constitute majority. part of relatively new variation due second-wave feminism, influenced many women seek ways of preserving natal names, family histories, , individual identities distinct of partners’.

it has become more common , accepted parents give children 2 last names, or without hyphen, although practiced small number of families. also, becoming more common merge surnames create entirely new surname, or invent new surname whole cloth. these options have advantage of allowing one, shared nuclear family name, disadvantage of making relationships between nuclear families (either of same generation or between generations) less easy determine.

additionally, common women in professional fields keep maiden name after married, without pronounced feminist influences. in these cases, children may given father’s surname, mother s surname or both surnames hyphenated (see double-barrelled name).

historically, not uncommon in prominent families preserve mother s maiden name using given first or middle name (typically, male) children. note of distinction , emphasized family s aristocratic history. prominent examples of naming practice include presidents franklin delano roosevelt, woodrow wilson, , john fitzgerald kennedy.