I remember a lot of people being surprised by the fact I was going to change my name. There were a few people who gave me strange looks and muttered under their breath ‘Oh, I didn’t think you were the type’ or words to that effect. I often felt the need to justify my decision.
This week I applied for a passport under my new name. It will be the first official document where I appear as Mrs Mc. Up until now, the change in my surname has been a bit of a novelty – like when we received our first Christmas cards addressed to Mrs and Mrs Mc. As I’ve kept my maiden name at work, I’ve as of yet rarely had the opportunity to introduce myself to people as Tink Mc.
Filling out the form has made it seem far more real and I’ve found myself reflecting on the reasons why I decided to change it in the first place. The decision to change your name or not is a very personal one. I’m not sure I can fully explain why it is something I did happily but I’ll at least try.
Firstly, I’m very proud of my maiden name. I love how it links me to my Dad, my granddad, my great grandfather and so on. But I feel just as strong a connection to my mum’s maiden name and indeed my grandmothers’ maiden names. I am equal parts Healy, Savage, Gavin and O’Toole. The fact that only one of these was my surname does not weaken my attachment to the others or the contribution each of these elements made to the woman I’ve become. For me, changing my name does not deny my family or my roots; it allows me to continue the tradition of threading the ties together.
Secondly, in answer to the charge that changing my name is a sign of subservience and a surrender of feminist ideals – I couldn’t disagree more. In the same way that a woman who chooses to keep her name exhibits her independence, I believe my choice to change does the same thing. It is the freedom and independence of my decision that is the matter of principle and not what choice I make.
Finally, I’m happy to take Mr Mc’s name as a public commitment not only to him but also to his family. Living just fifteen minutes from my parents, we see my family all the time. However, as Mr Mc’s family are in the North weeks can often go by without us seeing them. Becoming a Mc is my way of recognising the importance of his family to me and to show that I am honoured to have joined the clan.
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