Board Thread:Speculation House/@comment-24.247.91.107-20140511154823/@comment-24.51.64.107-20140805193440

MetallicArcher wrote: Slams head against desk.

Say, like in Bleach: Isshin is from the house of Shiba and married Masaki of the House of Kurosaki. Masaki was the last of her house so Isshin took her surname and so did their children. On the other hand, Ryuken was of the House of Ishida and Kanae was of the House of Katagiri, the Ishida were a more important House so that's the surname that got passed down.

Something like that? In some cultures the last name doesn't have to do with matriarchal or patriarchal traditions but of whose House is more important. That's generally how they do it in Japan.