Double-Barreied

[codswallop]

Why are there so many coloured sportsmen/women who have hyphenated surnames?

[Mamyalynne]

Never thought about it, do you have a theory?

My Daughter is double-barrelled, her choice.

[Buenchico]

A reminder to start with: Describing someone as 'coloured' is considered to be extremely offensive. (When I was teaching the use of that term would have constituted grounds for dismissal).

However I suspect that women who reach the highest levels in sport (irrespective of their race or ethnicity) might be more likely than average to want to 'retain their identity' when they get married, but also to embrace their partnership with their husband, resulting in them combining both their surnames.

[Guilbert53]

There is also a lot of double barrelled male English ethnic footballers around at the moment as well - Loftus Cheek (Chelsea), Alexander Arnold (Liverpool) and Walker Peters (Spurs) are amongst the many.

[-SharonA-]

Sounds posher??

[codswallop]

Thank you for your answers.There are so many ways these days that you can offend,it was never my intention, some women take offence being called ...love...dear..darling.I'm of a generation that had thicker skin.

[douglas9401]

It may just be an affectation, a fashion statement like nails and eyebrows.

Is there a difference between 'coloured' and 'of colour'? Really?

[1ozzy]

Double barreled ?

So they get a second shot

[Cloverjo]

I don't think it's a fashion statement. It's just how their parents (or grandparents further up the line, in the case of Dina Asher-Smith) have chosen which or how many surnames to use for their family.

'People of colour' like to be called that, not 'coloured', so that's why it's important.

[douglas9401]

I'm obliged, it's been somewhat fluid in my lifetime, both official and slang terms.
Keeps it interesting I suppose and leaves room for offence whatever's said on a given day.

[naomi24]

//A reminder to start with: Describing someone as 'coloured' is considered to be extremely offensive.//

True, and yet a major civil rights organisation in the USA is called The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Funny old world.

To answer the question, I don't know - but perhaps some people just like to make a bit of a thing about clinging to their roots.

[1ozzy]

I describe myself as coloured.
A pom that has lived in Oz since the age of 1.
White during winter, coloured during summer.
Starts as red, turns brownish (nearly black!), fades again to white.
Sometimes during winter I almost turn blue.
If I envy someone I turn green.
Feeling sickly?, I don't want to describe that colour.
Angry, well, I see red.

[douglas9401]

The happiest of the rainbow people, Ozzy? :-)

[1ozzy]

*** yeah!!!

[fiction-factory]

I wonder if Camilla Parker-Bowles, Helena Bonham Carter etc know. Yes it does seem more common amomg black athletes than white atheletes but it is also quite common in the white upper middle classes

[naomi24]

Helena Bonham Carter didn't make the choice. Her father was a Bonham Carter. I really think it's something to do with maintaining the family name - especially if it's a 'good' family name.

[Hopkirk]

What happens when two people with double barrelled names get married?

[douglas9401]

I believe that's when the chin starts to shrink and the upper teeth protrude, Hopkirk.

[-SharonA-]

They become Mr & Mrs Red White Black!!

When I was at work, we had a policy that any one with a double barrelled name would be called by the last name and just use one surname.

[codswallop]

WOW !!! Thanks everyone.