News summary produced by Claude AI
Two adopted children of actors Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have initiated legal proceedings to remove their father’s surname from their names. In April, Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt and Maddox Chivan Jolie-Pitt filed documents to drop the Pitt surname, with the requirement of publishing their name-change intention in a local newspaper for a four-week period completed in June and July. Both siblings are scheduled for court appearances in September to obtain judicial approval for the changes. This action follows a similar decision by another of the couple’s six children, Shiloh, who changed her surname to Jolie in 2024.
The article explores the broader phenomenon of individuals severing paternal surname connections through accounts of others with comparable experiences. Hannah Leonard, a 25-year-old in California, recently changed her surname to Leonard-Ripley, combining her mother’s maiden name with her husband’s surname after more than a decade of using two surnames in different contexts. Another individual named Maggie from Lincolnshire changed her surname to match her mother’s, having inherited a paternal surname she described as including profanity that caused childhood teasing.
Experts in family psychology and name studies provide perspective on the motivations behind such changes. Dr. Harry Parkin, a lecturer at University of Chester who has studied name history, notes that surname changes often signify a desire to disconnect and disassociate from a name. Dr. Becca Bland, a family counselor specializing in estrangement, describes the practice as a psychological defense mechanism allowing individuals to separate themselves from problematic or traumatic associations. Dr. Lucy Blake from University of the West of England emphasizes that research demonstrates adults who estrange themselves from relatives typically make such decisions deliberately and carefully over time, contrary to criticism suggesting impulsive behavior.
The practical and financial aspects of surname changes vary by jurisdiction. In England and Wales, individuals can change their names through unenrolled or enrolled deed poll, with enrolled deed poll through the High Court costing £53.05. In Northern Ireland, the process costs £35, while Scotland charges £40 through the National Records of Scotland. Individuals under 16 require parental consent in England, Wales, and Scotland. Hannah reported that her name change in California required approximately three months and cost several hundred dollars, including filing fees and newspaper advertisement requirements that she characterized as antiquated.