Multiple surnames

[seangarner]

Hi

In less than 2 weeks I get married to a Peruvian. After the marriage we are hoping to apply for a visa for settlement in the UK.

I appologise if this is slightly off-topic but I can't find anywhere else to turn.

All peruvians have 2 surnames, those from their mother and father. Once married, the wifes Surnames do not change, but the husbands paternal surname is appended in the format of "de Surname" (de=from). This is the format which will appear on her passport and thus her name in the UK aswell.

If that's consufed you maybe an example will help:

Before:

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First name | Middle Name | Maternal Surname | Paternal Surname
  Carmen   |      Diana      |         Peralta          |       Obregón

After:

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Carmen Diana Peralta Obregón de Garner

I know it's ok to have different Surnames in the UK but I'm concerned the format of my wifes name may be a problem for things such as banks (I've never seen forms that include space for 3 surnames, let alone with the confusion of "de" between the last 2.

Has anybody had experience with this?

[vmulberry]

Yes, I have the same situation myself being Mexican by birth. On my birth certificate all the names listed (my parent's and mine) have two surnames but growing up in the USA I only ever used my first name and my father's last name.

Now I live in the UK and still only use my first name and my husband's surname, but on official things I do put down my maiden name as it appears on both my birth certificate and passport.

It's not something I use often. I would say the only things that have it are my birth certificate and passport of course, but since moving to UK only on marriage certificate did I use full name like that. Once married I became just my first name and surname and use that on all forms including my children's birth certificates. A new passport of mine will have married name as just the one surname too.

I suppose if your wife wants to continue to use her full name she may have some problems. I chose to just use my husband's surname so like I said I do not have those problems.

The 'de' part is similar to my middle name. Both my sister and I have 'del' as part of our middle names (i.e. del Carmen) but where there is a space to write it we do and where there is no way to include the del we just put the name alone.

[seangarner]

Thanks for the reply. I think that helps. I was only worried about the official bits, like banks and contracts.

Now I have a little more confidence, I wonder if the "de Garner" will cause any problems.

[John]

Under UK law you can call yourself whatever you like, as long as you are not changing your name to commit a criminal offence.

It is not unheard to say Mr Smith wishing to change his name to Mr Jones, or something as different as that.

You mention "de Garner". In the UK you can treat that in anyway you want, in this sense. Remembering it is your choice but in the UK, if you so choose to do so, could use the surname of "Garner", and a first name of "Carmen", with middle names of "Diana Peralta Obregón de". Whilst that would clearly not be the way things are done back in Peru, it would allow you to drop the "de" from your normal "Firstname Surname" name of Carmen Garner ... whilst continuing to have the "de" there when you write your name out in full.

If that is your wish?

[seangarner]

John, many thanks, from both of us.

I don't know what she wants to do yet, but now we are armed with the facts it makes deciding a lot easier.

Very grateful, Sean