hyphenated surnames
hyphenated last names are not always ideal (computers sometimes don't recognize hyphens and some names are too long for most forms) but they have allowed couples to mark their relationships and children to carry their dual heritage. Even hyphenation doesn't assure gender fairness: the Nebraska Supreme Court once ruled that the father's surname must precede the mother's in hyphenated children's names. See also maiden name, matronym/matronymic, patronym/patronymic, surnames.
