Whether you are getting married, registering a child, or simply looking for a fresh start, in the UK, you have full legal freedom to join or blend two surnames together, though the exact process depends on why and how you are doing it.
The Common Ways to Combine Surnames
There are two primary ways people merge their surnames:
Double-barrelling – Joining the two names with a hyphen. For example, Smith-Jones. Or keeping them as two separate words side by side, Smith Jones.
Creating a meshed name – Blending parts of both surnames together to create an entirely new surname. For example, combining “Taylor” and “Morgan” to create “Taygan”.
How to Legally Change Your Name
The legal paperwork required depends on the circumstances of the change:
After marriage or Civil Partnership – If you and your spouse simply want to double-barrel your existing surnames, your official marriage or civil partnership certificate is usually accepted by most organisations. Such as HM Passport Office and the DVLA as proof of the change.
Creating a blended surname or changing outside marriage – If you are inventing a completely new meshed name. Or if you are double-barrelling without getting married, you must execute a formal Deed Poll. A Deed Poll is an official legal document that formally declares you have abandoned your old name and adopted a new one. GOV.UK confirms that a Deed Poll is a legal document that provides evidence of a change of name.
Combining Surnames for Children
If you wish to combine surnames for a child, both parents with parental responsibility must agree to the change. If you are registering a new-born, you can simply register the double-barrelled or combined name on the original birth certificate. If you are changing an existing child’s surname later on, you will need to use a Deed Poll signed by everyone who holds parental responsibility. GOV.UK confirms that changing a child’s name generally requires the agreement of everyone with parental responsibility, unless a court order is obtained.
For help changing your name via Deed Poll, contact DeedPoll.com on 020 8017 2216.
Read more information on Deed Polls, changing your name and family name changes.
