Surnames

jackieb

Tropez wrote: »

For what little it is likely worth:

My surname by birth is different to the surname I have used throughout my life. Those who became my parents never needed to go through any legal procedure for schools to accept that I was known by a different name to my birth name. They knew about it, as I happened to catch a glimpse of the school register one day and my "real" surname was in brackets.

When I was 11 my parents opted to obtain a deed poll on my behalf through the court because I was getting to the age where I would soon be opening bank accounts and the rest of it and they didn't want any difficulties due to me using what was effectively an assumed name.

I am 29 now so there may have been a change in the law or change in guidelines for schools to follow regarding such matters.

My son is 28 and has a different surname from the one on his birth certificate. We started using his present surname when he was 2 and I got married. We've never did anything legally to change it. He has a driving licence, passport and has bought a house and has never had any problem because his name is different from the one on his birth certificate.

System

SingleSue wrote: »

I told my parents I always hated my first name and so, in 1982, told them I wanted to be Sue not Susan.

My friends call me Sue, my boyfriend calls me Sue, the ex husband calls me Sue...my parents still call me Susan.

Strangely, even though I prefer to be called Sue, I get really annoyed if that is used on official documents, certificates or medical reports...for that I am most def Susan or Mrs ******

Only my Mother, Auntie and two neighbours either side of me call me Judith. Mom insisted that i was to be called Judith as she didnt like Judi (or Judy) as Judy was a monkey on the television programme Daktari.

Paddles

Fosterdog wrote: »

I'd have to agree, at four years old she doesn't really understand the meaning of names and why some people change them etc.

My friend's four year old went for a week where she would only answer to Dora, she was convinced she was Dora the Explorer. A few weeks later she became Cinderella for a day. It's something four year olds often do but you wouldn't change your daughters first name just because she asked you to so her surname should be no different.

Glad we weren't the only ones, we had three weeks of our four year old daughter getting very cross/refusing to answer when people called her anything other than fairy. We eventually put our feet down and refused to feed fairy and would only let little miss paddles sit at the table.

Honestly, I would tell her that when she's older she can be called moon beam cutie pie if she so desires but until then you can't change her name... Hmm I think I might like to be called moon beam cutie pie actually

lazer

hazybubbles wrote: »

This is not correct. A parent can request that the child is 'known as' whatever surname you like, although the register will still have their legal surname on it. On the front of their books, rewards in school, and in class they will use their known as name. For official exams they will be entered under their legal surname and the certificates will have that on it.

There are a few children at my school known as different things for different reasons and some of them get very upset if you use their legal surname instead. It can be the same sort of situation as the OP or some are known as mums new husband's surname. There are a couple of examples where they are known as other surnames because their legal name is either rude sounding or something else likely to get them picked on.

Yes but if one parent requests the child be given a known name and the other parent requests that the child's legal name be used I would imagine the school would then use the legal name.

Schools can and often do use known as names but I believe either parent can insist on the legal name being used if both have parental responsibilty

bexiboo92

SingleSue wrote: »

I told my parents I always hated my first name and so, in 1982, told them I wanted to be Sue not Susan.

My friends call me Sue, my boyfriend calls me Sue, the ex husband calls me Sue...my parents still call me Susan.

Strangely, even though I prefer to be called Sue, I get really annoyed if that is used on official documents, certificates or medical reports...for that I am most def Susan or Mrs ******

My mum's full name is "Frances". She hasn't been known as that since she was at school, but her eldest sister still calls her it and her Dad used to call her "Franny" which she hated them more haha.