mixing the name isn't as nice of a idea as you might think the kids of the pair now have to deal with a stupidly long last name, for me I have 15 charters then if you chose to mix it again the next generation it become even longer XC
.. its fine for the adults but its a pain in the neck for growing kids that cant fit there name on a library card (its fine latter on though)
personally i think the last name should be left alone if not changed entirely for the newer generation by the couple. ^^

I prefer the tradition of it, but to be honest that's probably because people have offered to marry me solely because of my last name.

It helps to be a Snape.

How would you truly be together forever if you had two separate last names? It's a form of submission for a woman to change her name when she gets married. If she doesn't want her name to change, then she shouldn't get married! Simple as that! I don't know why it's a woman-to-man's-name thing, but that's just how it goes! Men are to protect the women and care for them--who cares if they ARE able to fend for themselves?

It's a tradition that's like a ring - you're putting your name on somebody, you're owning them. I think its a disgusting tradition. I'm keeping my name, thanks.

Well, I'd like to keep my last name... I wanna keep my initials as a squiggle! (MNW) Unless the lucky guy is even more lucky, and has a last name starting with "W". XD I dunno if I'll ever marry, though. I'm really picky...

As a woman, I'd like to say that we should have a choice whether or not to change our last name. For some, their original name has a special meaning, or purpose to them. Seriously, it's up to the couple. It's their choice, not the law, who/whatever, nor nay-sayers'.

You could Hyphenate, so John Smith and Jane Doe become John and Jane Smith-Doe. I took my husband's last name. I think people do it for ease with the government.

I'm planning on getting married very soon, and this question has come up.

It's really sad to say that if parents give birth to an only child that happens to be female, your last name will never continue to endure. She basically cuts off your family name, and helps to continue someone else's surname. My last name is very unusual, there are only a few of us with my last name, so I feel weird being the daughter who can't help continue the family name. The only reason I want to change my name is because I'm replacing a hard-to-spell name with an easy-to-spell common name.

I feel like two married people should share one of their last names. If the husband's last name is buttface, go with the wife's. I don't think it matters which name really, as long as they share one. Having different last names kind of takes away from the marriage, if it were mine.