Bob, I am currently going through a number of Frederick County VA original Deed Books and I can say with certainty that they never did things exactly the same way twice! The answer to your question, only as I have observed myself, is that it is sometimes they did and sometimes they did not------------I don't know if there was a reason for why they did or didn't in a particular circumstance; however, it seems the wife's maiden name was usually mentioned when the property being dealt with had something to do with a former family that she was connected with such as former husband, her parents property, or any family/other party that may have given her interest in a property. As you know, most of the time, not always, the woman's husband took care of all the business transactions. Chocy