A last name passing down system that is gender equal, heritage preserving and sustainable

Every child gets a hyphenated last name. When they pass on their name to the next generation, men pass on their father’s name and women pass on their mother’s name. (nb people choose)

So John Smith and Jane Doe name their children Alice and Bob Smith-Doe.

When Bob and Alice meet their spouses, Jerry and Carol Lopez-Noble Bob passes on Smith, and Alice passes on Doe.

So Bob’s children get the last name Smith-Noble and Alice’s children get the last name Lopez-Doe.

And on and on, so their male and female last names are passed on forever.

This avoids the inequality of the male name only being passed on and also avoid the unsustainability of endless hyphenation while preserving the heritage of the last name.