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Archiver > GENBRIT > 2003-07 > 1058218518


From: Don Aitken <>
Subject: Re: Scottish Tombstones
Date: Mon, 14 Jul 2003 22:35:18 +0100
References: <572c4cf.0307141247.1192cc4c@posting.google.com>


On 14 Jul 2003 13:47:45 -0700, (John Stevens)
wrote:

>Recently whilst visiting south-west Scotland (from London) I visited
>a village churchyard to look at some historic graves. Whilst there I
>noticed that on all tombstones that recorded the death of a married or
>widowed woman her maiden name only was quoted. i.e
>
>"Here lies Mary Jones, beloved wife of John Smith"
>
>Now I may be unobservant but this seems different from my experience
>elsewhere. It is usual surely for a woman to be recorded on her tombstone
>in her married name? Certainly all of my ancestors graves that I have found
>have been in this format.
>
>So, can anyone tell me if the use of the maiden name is peculiar to Scotland
>or it it a practice to be found elsewhere in Britain?
>
It's a Scottish thing. In Scots law a woman retains her surname on
marriage. She would commonly be referred to by her husband's surname,
but I think most people would be aware that that was just a custom.

--
Don Aitken

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