About Women Changing Their Names after Marriage

I was just thinking... Why do women change their last names after marriage?

When I grew up, it wasn't like I was confused what family I belonged to.  I was actually annoyed when people assumed that my mom had the same last name as me.

I don't know if it's widely known among Americans in general but married women never take their husband's last name; only the kids usually do.  (And even if it's with the kids, the kids' last names could either be the dad's or mom's depending on what the mom and dad agree on. For example, Naruto's last name is from his mother, not his father because the dad didn't want anyone to know that Naruto was the dad's child.)

Why?  It's like (traditionally) how married women take their husband's surname after marriage.  They just do.

I know there's this trend that the married woman will add on their husband's last name with a dash after her last name. However, I personally find this to be annoying, especially when I have to write out a compound (American) last name that's at least over 25 letters long.  [I don't mind Indian/Arabic names because I know linguistically those names are just wicked long hands down.]

Apparently (from history class before vacation), Southeast Asia still has to do significant work on women's rights before it is up to par with the UN's goals.  So this whole conception of "you give up your self-identity when you change your last name as a married woman" is ultimately a fallacy when that concept is not held by countries that don't have women's rights.

I'd like to find out more about the historical reason why (in the Western world) women don't keep their original last name but take their husband's last name.