Why Some Parents Give Their Children a Last Name Other Than the Father’s Some American parents have been breaking the patrilineal tradition for generations, but the number who do so remains small. Author: CLAIRE CAIN MILLER Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window)MoreClick to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)