I went back to my maiden name (by deed poll so that I could do it before the divorce came through). I’m really glad I did as it meant the world to my parents to have me back with their name. I hadn’t expected that, but for some reason it really meant a lot, and it certainly felt more comfortable to be back with that name than still attached to my ex. We didn’t have kids, but my thinking was that if I ever did have kids in the future and I still had that surname, would I want those kids having the name of someone from my past? No.
Now, though, if I were to marry again, I feel really uncomfortable about the thought of changing my surname. (It probably doesn’t help that, because of my father dying young and my mum remarrying, I have had quite a few surnames in my life!)
Also, both my brothers are divorced, and I don’t think their kids have kept our family surname, and my sister and her children all have her married surname, so I would love it if my children continued the family name… It’s an unusual name, but more than that, my Dad has been such an amazing influence in all our lives that it would mean a great deal to me to somehow continue his name. (I may end up doing that by using his first name as a middle name if I’m fortunate enough to be blessed with children.)