Susan, I see it all the time informally (e.g., cousins who are always referred to by their maiden name), but not usually formally (e.g., the headstone). Many times it's because there are many others of the same first name in the family, and I've seen it in Ireland, too, so it's not a Philadelphia thing. I even see it a lot (impliedly) on US census records, where it turns out the woman's middle initial is actually the initial of her maiden name -- and in those cases, it's not always an Irish woman. Maybe it's just that women used their maiden names more than we thought? In my own family, I've seen it as far back as someone born (in the US of Irish descent) in the 1860s who was always known by her maiden name within the family. It sure is helpful when doing genealogy, as long as you find someone with a long memory! ;-) Claire K. On Feb 12, 2007, at 3:35 PM, Susan Regan wrote: > My gr.gr. grandmother and her sister always used their maiden names > along with their married ones like some women today. They were > Irish immigrants that settled in Philly in the 1870s and 1880s. > Their names are even listed that way on their headstones (Annie > Martin Daley and Margaret Martin Wymer). I haven't found that to > be typical. Any clues to why they might have done that? > Thanks, > Susan Regan

I have always used my maiden name, Harris, as my middle name. I really never liked my middle name. My mother has always used her middle name, Ahearn, but her middle name was her mother's maiden name. By the way we were all born in Philly. Christine Harris Boyette Researching in Philly and surrounding areas; HAPPOLD, AHEARN/AHERN, ALLEN, CUMMINS/CUMMINGS and related families. "The only foes that threaten America are the enemies at home, and these are ignorance, superstition and incompetence." : Elbert Hubbard (American editor, publisher and writer, 1856-1915)