Parents in the state of Tennessee sue to choose childs last name?

This is a first for me.  A couple have children.  Most people see children as the legacy one leaves behind.  In most states the law requires parents to give their children their name.  I'm not sure what state these parents had their first two children, but that state let them create a last name for their children.  Yes you read correctly, create a last name for their children.


These parents then move to Tennessee and have a third child together.  That state requires that their child either have the father or mother's last name or a hyphenated version of the two together.  Of course this makes perfect sense to me.  The problem with this was that the third child's last name won't match the first two children's last name because the last name was created.


Why would any parent not want their child to carry the family name?  Are they ashamed of their names?  If they were then why not change their name to something they do like and then give that name to their children?  The parents have kept their last names so  they can't be too ashamed of them.  Most  parents that I know of are concerned if their children's names don't match theirs if they get divorced and return to their maiden name or even remarry but these parents wanted their children to have a completely different last name than either of them,  I'm not a supporter of hyphenated names but if they wanted the children to carry both of their names then that is the only option that makes sense, not to create a new name out of letters from each parents last name.


I can imagine what it will be like to enroll these children in school.   I'm sorry but to enroll your child in school we need a copy of the custody agreement.  There is no custody agreement.  There has to be a custody agreement since you don't share the same last name.  Please get us a copy of the custody agreement.  I repeat there is no custody agreement or guardianship agreement we are the biological parents of this child.  But, you don't share the same last name so something isn't right we need to see the court document please....


Well to each their own I guess.  Have fun with that.