Before attending an appointment with the Marriage Registry of Malta, the spouse needs to have decided on the surname they wish to carry over after the ceremony upon the signing of the Marriage Certificate.
Either spouse has 3 different options:
1. The TraditionalÂ
The spouse can drop their maiden name and claim their partner’s surname.Â
- Catherine Saliba marries Steve Mangion to become Mrs Catherine Mangion.
- Herbert Scerri marries Rita Bonello to become Mr Herbert Bonello.
2. The Double
The spouse can choose to double-barrel surnames, and is able to choose the order in which they appear.
- Doris Pullicino marries Gorg Baldacchino to become Mrs Doris Pullicino Baldacchino.
- Nicholas Xuereb marries Jeanice Guillaumier to become Mr Nicholas Guillaumier Xuereb.
3. The Original
The spouse can opt to not drop their surname and remain the same as before.
Censa Demajo can remain as Censa Demajo. Because Censa is a strong, independent woman who doesn’t need a man. (But she does want one. So when she gets one, she’ll use Get Hitched to help organise her wedding and sail down the aisle with ease.) Be like Censa. Be Original.
When the couple eventually have children, they will be able to claim their father’s surname or double-barrel. They are not able to claim their mother’s maiden name as a standalone during marriage.
For some of us, the decision can be understandably difficult. Your surname has been with you all of your life up until now, it’s a sense of identity. You might find it uncomfortable to strip yourself of that, but at the end of the day the choice is ultimately up to you.
