How many Georgians changed surnames in 2017?

In total 8,339 Georgian citizens changed surnames in 2017, the Georgian Justice Ministry reports. 

The statistics come after the Georgian government had announced plans to make the changing of surnames more complicated to prevent the illegal flow of Georgian citizens to the European Union countries with the help of the EU-Georgia visa free deal.

• A direct relative’s surname was taken by 1,977 males and 5,467 females in 2017.
• The same year, a spouse’s surname was taken by 418 males and 477 females.

In 2016 7,175 people changed surnames in Georgia.

• A direct relative’s surname was taken by 1,678 males and 5,497 females.
• The same year a spouse’s surname was taken by 398 males and 464 females.

The Justice Ministry reports that 58 individuals changed a name or a surname twice in 2016 and one individual had their name changed three times.

In 2017, 59 individuals changed their name or a surname twice and one individual four times.