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Help[Facts] Re: Why does a surname need to specify that it's unisex?
in reply to a message by Anya Mel’nik or Mel’nyk
Many women of Slavic descent living in the West (particularly the United States) use the masculine surname for the sake of convenience or because their families have assimilated. It's especially common with women whose families have lived in the West for generations. I have a Polish last name ending in -ski, and all the women in my family use the -ski ending, even though in Polish this usage is incorrect.
To give an example, Maria Kowalska would be proper Polish. Maria Kowalski would most likely be born in the United States or some other Western country.
To give an example, Maria Kowalska would be proper Polish. Maria Kowalski would most likely be born in the United States or some other Western country.
This message was edited 6/2/2025, 6:21 PM
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That might be true for people who moved to Western countries a long time ago. But modern immigrants care a lot less about assimilation than people did a hundred years ago, and they tend to use names that feel natural to them. I actually know far more people who recently came from Eastern Europe and continue to follow the naming traditions of their countries of origin—like patronymics and gendered last names—than those who adopt Western conventions.
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Yes, correct. But I do not see how this is relevant to original point.
Since it was mentioned,
It does not change in all countries. Country with similar enough tradition will follow it. For example, if Polish 'Jan Kowalski' and 'Maria Kowalska' move to Ukraine and have daughter, her surname is Kovalska / Kowalska, but if Lithuanian 'Aleksandras Kvedaravičius' and wife 'Vaiva Kvedaravičienė' move to Ukraine and have daughter, her surname is Kvedaravichyus / Kvedaravičius, not Kvedaravichyute / Kvedaravičiute.
Since it was mentioned,
It does not change in all countries. Country with similar enough tradition will follow it. For example, if Polish 'Jan Kowalski' and 'Maria Kowalska' move to Ukraine and have daughter, her surname is Kovalska / Kowalska, but if Lithuanian 'Aleksandras Kvedaravičius' and wife 'Vaiva Kvedaravičienė' move to Ukraine and have daughter, her surname is Kvedaravichyus / Kvedaravičius, not Kvedaravichyute / Kvedaravičiute.
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