maiden name

noun

1. a woman's surname before her marriage.

maiden name

noun

1. a woman's surname before marriage

Word History and Origins

Origin of maiden name¹

First recorded in 1680–90

Example Sentences

Takaichi is a staunch conservative who has long opposed legislation allowing married women to keep their maiden names, insisting it undermines tradition.

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Takaichi is a staunch conservative who's long opposed legislation allowing women to keep their maiden names after marriage, saying it is against tradition.

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LB: It's my mum's maiden name, so the English side of the family.

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Clemantina's parents didn't marry until after she was born, so her mother's maiden name was used on the birth certificate.

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The author said Winn was her maiden name, and she disliked her first name of Sally and decided to use her family name Raynor as a pen name.

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Related Words

• family name