Same last name, longer marriage? Study finds link between surname sharing and divorce risk

Using 2023 Pew Research Center data and Texas divorce records, the Institute for Family Studies finds that couples with different last names divorce about 50% more often and 8–10 years earlier than those who share a surname; researchers say shared names may reflect a stronger, team-first dynamic and shared resources, while non-shared names may accompany impulsive marriages and the bureaucratic burden of changing names; about 75–80% of married couples share surnames nationwide, with older, conservative white women more likely to take a spouse’s name and education influencing the choice.