Russian last name??

Question

i'm still deciding whether or not i should change my last name when i turn 18.

the last name is "Kirpichnikov" and im not really sure if it's russian (because my great grandfather was from White Russia, present day Belarus. but at the time russia had it taken over so...).

if i were to get married, and my wife would take my last name (if i have that name), should she add an a and make it Kirpichnikova? or since im american, just keep it the same??

Answer 1

You did not say what the current spelling is, being used.

As much as I love genealogy.. keep this in mind.. if you change to the original, that is the name your children would have, AND what they would spend 1/2 their lives, spelling it for someone else.  As for your wife using the custom of the "a" on the end.. that would mean, that in any computerized files, she would show up as another name entirely.  If anyone looked for the name using google.. the "a" spelling will not 'hit'.  

Just my opinion.  Using the original spelling and custom of women with an A.. would cause a lot of unnecessary confusion and constant explanations.

Answer 2

Hi, it certainly sounds Russian to me.  I would say it would be up to your wife on what she wants to do.  She might decide to keep her maiden name as well.  I haven't see too many American women add the "a" on the end of their names.  I think you should be proud of your ancestry, but I imagine life would be easier if you did change your name to something easier to pronounce and spell.

Answer 3

It is a Russian last name, and if you do decide to change it I would have your wife not add the A if you stay in the states and/or get married. I say not to add the A because many Americans don't understand that in Russian and Eastern European cultures women add A's to the end of their married name.