After several law changes, double-barrelled surnames are again permitted in Switzerland – but for adults only.
Banned in Switzerland since 2013, married couples will once again be permitted to use a double surname from January 1st, 2027. This will become part of the process of registering the marriage, the couple are simply required to declare that they want a double name.
By adopting this ordinance, Switzerland is going back, in broad terms, to the system similar to that in place before 2013.
At that time, women especially used this formula to keep their maiden and married names, with or without a hyphen in between.
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However, such combinations will not be allowed for children, who will only have one single surname – either the mother’s or the father’s.
Why is that?
The reason is purely pragmatic – that is, to prevent an accumulation of surnames over generations.
Say a child ‘inherits’ their parents’ double-barrelled surname, Schweizer-Meyer.
Years later, that individual marries another double-named person, Favre-Sutter, and they decide to continue the tradition by passing on their double surnames to their offspring as well.
Therefore, the child could – depending on the legislation in place at the time of its birth – potentially end up as Schweizer-Meier-Favre-Sutter, which would be a mouthful and likely a heavy burden to carry, starting from the playground all the way to adulthood.
But exceptions do exist
The ‘single surname’ rule applies to Swiss-citizen children only.
It is, on the other hand, more flexible regarding children born in Switzerland to foreign parents.
If the country of the child’s origin allows a double surname – or if such names are customary there – parents can request that the Swiss civil registry office registers their offspring under those names.
The same rule extends to dual nationals as well – that is, naturalised Swiss citizens who have also retained the citizenship of their home country.
They too can ask that a double-barrelled name be passed on to their child.
