All in the name

Jane Bradley is not in fact a “terribly modern gal”, but a very traditional one (Perspective, 23 December). The Scottish custom was for a woman to use her maiden name throughout her life – eg Jean Armour, who was married to Robert Burns. The English practice of taking one’s husband’s surname on marriage started creeping across the Border in the early 1800s.

I show my friends the 
courtesy of using the names they choose, but we still get many cards addressed to my husband and a nonexistent Mrs X. Given the divorce rate causing multiple name changes, it would save a lot of trouble if we all reverted to the Scottish tradition!

Lynn Herbert

Links Road

Leven, Fife