In the last few hours the topic of changing surnames has been causing discussion, after three brothers from Rimini requested and obtained the possibility of changing their paternal surname (replacing it with that of their mother) because it was considered embarrassing and caused ridicule. But can it really be done in Italy? Well yes, the legislation allows holders of Italian citizenship to change their personal details (therefore both names and surnames), as long as there are “objectively relevant” reasons.
In no case, however, can one’s surname be changed by attributing surnames of historical importance or linked to particularly illustrious or well-known families.
From 2022, among other things, new born babies can receive a double surname (maternal and paternal), after a ruling by the Constitutional Court declared the automatic attribution of the father’s surname unconstitutional.
How the procedure for changing your surname works and the reasons
First of all, it should be specified that an Italian citizen can request to change his surname – or to add another to his own – only in the presence of objectively relevant situations and valid and significant reasons. This is the case, for example, of:
- Potentially embarrassing last names: it is the case in which the current surname may be embarrassing, offensive or reveals the natural origin (for example in the case of children of unknown parents).
- Emotional or family reasons: in fact, it is possible to request the change or addition of another surname (for example, the maternal one or that of the person who raised the applicant) if there are emotional, family or social reasons of particular importance, which must be supported by adequate documentation.
Among the requirements, clearly, there is also the obligation to possess Italian citizenship: in no case, however, can the attribution of surnames of historical importance or which could mislead one believe that the applicant belongs to illustrious or particularly well-known families.
At this point, the applicant must present the application, which must be authorized by the Prefect of the province of residence or birth: in the event of a positive outcome, the citizen will have to have a notice of his request to change his surname posted for 30 consecutive days on the Notice Board of the Municipality of birth and that of residence. The aim is to allow anyone who is interested to oppose the change of surname.
If no one objects, then the Prefect will thus sign the decree which authorizes the new surname, which will not come into force automatically, but only after transcription into the official registers.
What has changed in Italy with the introduction of the double surname
Among other things, the issue of the surname has returned to the center of Italian attention after a ruling by the Constitutional Court in 2022 established the unconstitutionality of the automatic attribution of the paternal surname to children, thus introducing the possibility of giving a double surname to new born children.
In practice, therefore, children born after 1 June 2022 can have both the father’s and mother’s surnames: however, parents can decide to give their son or daughter only one of the two surnames, while in the case of a double surname the order must be decided by both in a consensual manner.
According to the latest ISTAT report on birth rate and fertility of the resident population, approximately 7% of newborns in Italy have acquired a double surname, a figure that has almost tripled compared to 2020, when the share stopped at 2%. Several interesting data emerge from the analysis: the double surname is more common in Northern and Central Italy (8%) than in Southern Italy (6%), it is more frequent among first-born children (9.2%) than second (4.7%) and third – or subsequent – children (3%) and is adopted much more by non-married couples (8.5%) than by married ones (5.3%).
