The woman never took the mans name in older times she was given it simply because a women when she married was owned by the man.
Does this not sping to mind when other people were 'owned' they were given the masters name.
Even in Biblical times, and still adhered to by some religious groups, that the man is the head and the women must do as they wish. It is only in recent history, like the past 100 years and less still in many cases that women came to be a person in their own right.
What Maxx says is correct it may make things easier when one dies. But that is only if they are still together at that point. According to US Statistics 41% of first marriages end in divorce, 60% of second marriages and 73% of thrid marraiges. In Canada it is nearly 50% for first marriages, 72% for second and 85% for third.
In Australia and UK it it harder to put a % as the number of couple just living together has increased considerably in recent 20 years. But Office of national statistics state that over 160,000 people divorce every year and just over 200,000 marry in the UK. The first two years of marriage have the highest rate and 70% of divorces are first divorces.
So although things are much easier when one partner dies it seems to be a statistical fact that most marriages will not last until that even occurs and even then the money or assets do not automatically go to the surviving partners without undue paperwork.
There is one solution that all married couples must undertake and that is MAKE A WILL TODAY. Tomorow may be too late. More men are guilty of dying inestate (I think that is the word when they die without making a willl) than adultery.
Make a will and it matters not married or unmarried, taken your name or not. Your will is clear in what your intentions are.
Willy