Wives who change their surnames

If woman is the wife or widow of a Mr Angus Fleming (or Sir Angus
Fleming, or Lord Angus Fleming) she would be known as Mrs Angus Fleming
(or Lady Fleming, or Lady Angus Fleming). However, if she were to
change her surname for whatever reason by deed poll or Royal Licence to
Hyssop-Thurifer, would she become Mrs Angus Hyssop-Thurifer (or Lady
Hyssop-Thurifer, or Lady Angus Hyssop-Thurifer) despite never having
been the wife of a Mr Angus Hyssop-Thurifer (or Sir Angus
Hyssop-Thurifer, or Lord Angus Hyssop-Thurifer)?

Peter Tilman...

No. Name and title aren't divisible in that way - it's not just a mix and
match exercise with "insert surname here" and the like - and "Mrs Angus/Lady
Angus/Lady Hyssop-Thurifer" *means* "the wife of Mr/Lord/Sir Angus
Hyssop-Thurifer", and if she wasn't that she couldn't use it. If she wants
to share his title, she must use his name.

To use a real life example, Sir Paul McCartney's wife can call herself
"Heather Mills" if she likes, and no one's going to stop her (though of
course the Court Circular will ignore her and call her "Lady McCartney"),
but she certainly can't call herself "Lady Mills".

Matt Lavengood...

Then what would she be? I suppose she would be "Mrs (her name)
Hyssop-Thurifer"?

Michael Gronseth...

Wouldn't she be Mrs. (first name) Hyssop-Thurifier, the Lady Angus
Flemming?

-Michael P. Gronseth
Negaunee, MI