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Husbands and surnames

Can a husband take his wife’s surname?

Yes. The rules are exactly the same as for a wife taking her husband’s name, so your marriage certificate covers it with the Passport Office. A deed poll comes in if you want to keep your own surname as a middle name, blend your names, or change before the wedding.

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Same rules as for wives
Straight from the Passport Office
Deed poll options for any new name
Straight from the Passport Office’s own rules

Checked against GOV.UK and HM Passport Office’s change of name guidance. Sources are listed at the end.

Updated: 30 October 2026
On this pageQuick answerThe rulesWhen a deed poll helpsUpdating everythingTimingFAQs

The quick answer

Yes. GOV.UK says you don’t need a deed poll to take your spouse’s or civil partner’s surname, and HM Passport Office’s guidance says a husband who takes his partner’s name needs no other evidence than the marriage or civil partnership certificate, as long as it shows the link between the names. The same applies in any marriage or civil partnership.

You’ll need a deed poll if you want more than her surname: keeping your own surname as a middle name, a blended name, or taking her surname before you marry. Ours is £14.95 with free tracked delivery.

The rules

What the Passport Office says

HM Passport Office’s change of name guidance says a husband may decide to take his partner’s name when he marries or enters a civil partnership, and that it doesn’t need any other evidence if the certificate clearly shows the link between the old and new names. HM Passport Office: change of name applications

There’s no legal difference between husbands and wives here. Neither of you has to change your name, and either of you can take the other’s surname. GOV.UK: change your name by deed poll

What you wantWhat you need
Your wife’s surnameYour marriage certificate
Both surnames, double-barrelledYour marriage certificate, for your passport
Your surname as a middle name, with hers as your surnameA deed poll
A blend of both surnamesA deed poll
Her surname before the weddingA deed poll
Going further

When a deed poll is the better choice

Want to keep your own family name as well as taking your wife’s? HM Passport Office treats adding a forename as a change of name, so your marriage certificate won’t cover moving your surname into the middle, but one deed poll does the whole thing. Our guide to keeping a previous surname as a middle name works the same way for husbands.

Blended names, such as merging both surnames into one word, need a deed poll for each of you. Our guide to combining surnames has examples.

If an organisation questions your marriage certificate, point it to the Passport Office’s guidance. If it still won’t budge, a deed poll states your old and new names in full and settles it.

Step by step

Updating your licence, passport and bank

Driving licence

Free with the DVLA. Post form D1 with your licence and your original marriage certificate or deed poll. The DVLA doesn’t accept photocopies or laminated certificates.

Passport

Apply in your new name and send your marriage certificate, or your deed poll with evidence that you use the new name.

Bank and work

Show your bank your certificate or deed poll, and tell your employer so payroll and HMRC match.

Everyone else

Work through the rest with our free checklist.

GOV.UK’s passport guidance for newly weds and the DVLA’s rules apply to husbands exactly as they do to wives. GOV.UK: passport name change after marriage GOV.UK: change the name on your driving licence

Keeping your name as well as taking hers?

One deed poll covers your whole new name. Order by 6pm, Monday to Friday, for same-day processing.

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Before or after

Before or after the wedding?

With your marriage certificate, the change starts after the ceremony, and the Passport Office can issue a post-dated passport in your new name up to 3 months before. With a deed poll, you choose the date, including before the wedding. Our guide to your passport before the wedding compares the two.

Your questions answered

Frequently asked questions

Yes. GOV.UK says you don’t need a deed poll to take your spouse’s or civil partner’s surname, and HM Passport Office applies the same approach to husbands and wives.

Not to take her surname, because your marriage certificate covers it. You’ll need a deed poll to keep your own surname as a middle name, to blend your names or to change before the wedding.

Yes, with a deed poll. HM Passport Office treats adding a forename as a change of name, so your marriage certificate won’t cover it.

Yes. GOV.UK says your marriage or civil partnership certificate covers a double-barrelled name for your passports, so you can each apply with it.

Point it to HM Passport Office’s guidance, which accepts a marriage certificate for a husband taking his partner’s name. If it still won’t, a deed poll settles it.

Yes. Either spouse or civil partner can take the other’s surname with the certificate, and the deed poll options are the same.

Check the detail

Sources for this guide

Guidance and reference pages

The official rules this guide is based on, checked in October 2026.

Continue your name change

Related guides

Keeping a previous surname as a middle name

Why it needs a deed poll, and how to do it.

Combining surnames

Double-barrelled and blended names for couples.

Changing your name after marriage

When your certificate is enough, and when it isn’t.

Ready when you are

Take her name, your way.

For a middle name, a blended name or a change before the wedding, a deed poll does it. Prepared, checked and posted free for £14.95.

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