change of surname of a woman

[hemanthchinta]

Is the practice of changing the surname of woman after marriage a part of hinduism? if not how did the practice start?

[godofpathos]

Yes. Some communities (ie. Sindhi) even go as far as changing the woman's entire name. A new first name is chosen by the groom's family based on the the "akshar" or first letter that matches with the husband's jyotish. The middle name changes from the father's first name to the husband's first name, and the husband's surname is then adopted.