Why do some people have "-" in their surnames?

Question: Why do some people have "-" in their surnames!?

I'm really wondering!. Like Johnson-Keller (I just made that up)Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

In addition to what Caitlin posted, the hyphenated name is done differently in English speaking countries than in Spanish speaking countries where it is usually required!.

In English speaking countries a woman's maiden name is followed by her husband's surname!.

In Spanish speaking countries it is the other way around!. Actually, this is how it is done!. Patronymic means the male line!.

The husband's name would be his father's (patronymic) surname followed by his mother's (patronymic) maiden name!.

The wife and children's name would be her husband's and their father's (patronymic) surname followed by her (patronymic) maiden name!.

until the daughter gets married

she drops her mother's maiden name, pushes her father's name to the right and puts her husband's (patronymic) surname in front!.

In English speaking countries in the past the hyphenated surnames were used mostly by titled families!. In recent years in the U!.S!. professional women have adopted the custom!. also, I believe some women take on the hyphenated name as they think it makes them sound "classy!." Working in a hospital I found that even some Medicaid patients were hyphenating their children's name!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

For a married woman who wishes to keep her maiden name for whatever reason but wants to also use her husband's last name, she may decide to hyphenate her maiden name and married name!. Many times those same women will go by Ms!. instead of Mrs!. In the case of children, the hyphenated mother's name, may be passed down to them at birth!. Contrary to what many people believe the child does not automatically take the father's last name!.

Hyphenating surnames is just a way to keep a legal identity to both families!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Second what Caitlin said!. Note also that in the 18th and 19th centuries it was a common practice, if you inherited a property from a relative with a different name from yours - a maternal uncle or grandfather for example - to add their name to acknowledge the legacy!. So if your name was Carruthers and you inherited all the property of Mr Brown, your mother's brother, you might take the name Carruthers-Brown!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Well a long time ago people just used to call other people by their first names, and any other names didn't exist!. But then one day there were to many Johns so they called one "John by the Well" and the other "John the Cook" or shorthand "John Well" and "John Cook", Than there were more then one Johns per family so they gave them middle names and Hyphenated names!. :)

Hope this helps!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Many times it's so they can get a job under affirmative action laws!.Www@QuestionHome@Com