Can i change surname

It was possible, and not considered odd, for different members of the same family to spell their surname a different way, for example. There is a great difference between a mistake in the name of baptism, and in the sirname; for a man can have but one name of baptism, but may have two sirnames.

He held that —. Anciently men took most commonly their sur-names from their places of habitation, especially men of estate, and artizans often took their names from their arts, but yet the law is not so precise in the case of sur-names, and therefore a grant made by, or to John, son and heir of I.

In his judgment , Lord Lindley held —. We are not now sitting as a Committee for Privileges to determine a claim to the dignity created and granted by the letters patent, He then concluded, that the dispute between the parties was reduced to a dispute about the use of a name i. Speaking generally the law of this country allows any person to assume and use any name, provided its use is not calculated to deceive and to inflict pecuniary loss.

In this country [i. England] we do not recognize the absolute right of a person to a particular name to the extent of entitling him to prevent the assumption of that name by a Stranger.

The mere assumption of a name, which is the patronymic of a family, by a Stranger who had never before been called by that name, whatever cause of annoyance it may be to the family, is a grievance for which our Law affords no redress.

The change of name is — legally speaking — no different to someone who has changed their name by deed poll, or by simplying assuming a new name by usage. When you get divorced, you are free to either keep your married name, or revert back to your maiden name. See: Fendall v Goldsmid , 2 P. On getting married a second time, there is nothing to stop you from keeping your married name from your previous marriage.

From the 16 th century onwards, a practice came about mainly amongst the very rich to have either a private Act of Parliament, or a Royal Licence, as proof of a change of name except when changing name by marriage or divorce.

Although some people argued that this practice had established in common law a legal requirement to have to have your name changed in this way, eventually the practice died out — and it is now more than years since an act of Parliament of this sort has been passed, and Royal Licences are extremely rare.

Both methods are unpopular mainly because they are complex, inconvenient, slow, and expensive. An important part of the enrolment is that the details of the change of name will be advertised publicly in the London Gazette. Tariffs vary for majors and for persons who have not entered into a legal marriage or who have not been declared as majors in terms of the Age of Majority Act.

Altering the surname of a minor section 25 of births and Deaths Registration Act. A woman may assume her husband's surname, or revert to her maiden surname or a prior surname she legally bore, and since a woman may also join her surname with that of her husband's as a double-barreled surname. No application to the Department of Home Affairs is necessary in these instances, but to enable the Department to update the Population Register, women should notify the Department of such changes in writing.

Apart from the aforesaid exclusions, no major may assume another surname unless such change of surname has been approved by the Director-General of Home Affairs and has been published in the Government Gazette. Applications in this regard may be lodged at any domestic Home Affairs office or any South African embassy, mission or consulate abroad. Applications must be on a duly completed Form BI and a good and sufficient reason, in writing, for the change must be furnished. We are not lawyers or financial advisors.

We do our best to make the answers accurate, but we cannot accept any legal liability if there are errors. Answer to a question from a reader Can I change my surname without my parents' permission? The short answer If you are older than 18, you don't need your parents' permission. The whole question Dear Athalie I was born out of wedlock and so I was given my mother's maiden name. Wishing you the best, Athalie.