In early 2022, Lewis Hamilton revealed that he had begun the process of changing his name for deeply personal reasons. The seven-time world champion announced that he wanted to honor his mother, Carmen Larbalestier, by incorporating her surname into his own.
Traditionally in the United Kingdom, children typically take their father’s surname. As such, Hamilton’s birth surname was derived from his father, Anthony Hamilton. However, Carmen’s name, Larbalestier, was not included.
Hamilton expressed his pride in his family name but questioned why, traditionally, women lose their surnames upon marriage.
“I’m really proud of my family’s name: Hamilton. Actually, none of you might know that my mum’s name is Larbalestier, and I’m just about to put that in my name. Because I don’t really fully understand the whole idea of why, when people get married, the woman loses her name. I really want her name to continue on with the Hamilton name.”
As of now, nearly three years later, it is unclear whether the name change has been officially finalized. On the FIA’s official entry list, Hamilton continues to be listed simply as “Lewis Hamilton.”
