Since many Indians tribes trace their families through the mothers line, do Indian men take their wives last names or do they have hyphenated last names?
The concept of a “last name” or surname is a European one. Native Americans were forced to accept our system of naming, and so follow the custom of taking the husband’s name. In traditional societies, people are given names at different stages of their lives. But the idea of taking a name to show possession of a person is not a custom for Native people.
