Are Double-Barrelled Surnames... Pretentious?

At one time, you might have associated doubled-barrelled surnames such as Farquhar-Smythe with the gentry.

These days, double-barrelled surnames might even be considered a bit..... ermmm...chavvy.
They are sometimes, used by unmarried mothers to incorporate both parents surname. That's not so bad but when the child has a double-barrelled christian name too, it can become a bit ridiculous!

What are your views on double barrelled surnames? Is yours one? Would you like one?
Are they pretentious, necessary or, just chavvy?!!

Re: Are Double-Barrelled Surnames... Pretentious?

I've seen some that are just trying to maintain a child's relationship to the parents. Second marriages that include the child's surname with the new family name. That seems a good idea to me.

Re: Are Double-Barrelled Surnames... Pretentious?

My name is double barrelled as I wanted to retain my maiden name, at the time there where not too many around now it is a lot more commonplace.

Re: Are Double-Barrelled Surnames... Pretentious?

It does seem to be more common these days. There were a couple of men I worked with that had double barrelled names and it does seem strange that they are not toffs.

Funnily enough, I was discussing this only yesterday with my best mate Arthur Bogg-Plunger.

Re: Are Double-Barrelled Surnames... Pretentious?

Its risen with divorce and second families I think.

Re: Are Double-Barrelled Surnames... Pretentious?

Or just both parents wanting to keep their surnames in the family.

Re: Are Double-Barrelled Surnames... Pretentious?

Well I was born with mine so it can't be called pretentious or chavvy!
Flipping cheek!

Reminds me, years ago we had a dentist with a devilish difficult name to remember, it was something like Ballinger-Wotnot....anyway we used to refer to him as Balaclava-Helmet!!!

Re: Are Double-Barrelled Surnames... Pretentious?

Some great unfortunate ones out there if you Google it. A favourite of mine is Looney-Warde.

Re: Are Double-Barrelled Surnames... Pretentious?

My dad was Belgian so my 1st, middle and surname are all French.
Its ok but when you go to say a hospital appointment and waiting to be called I always know its my turn when the receptionist calls out Mr.....ermmm and then look blank as they are not sure how to pronounce my name.

Re: Are Double-Barrelled Surnames... Pretentious?

My brother and sister in law have kept both surnames
One is Welsh the other Slovak
It makes for a bit of a mouthful but understandable