Changing names

I'd probably add my partner's name to my own. I'm not overly fond of my own surname but I'd like to add to it. If I had the choice I'd change to my mom's surname but when I mentioned that to my dad he said that "there'd be no one to pass the name on to". Even so, I don't plan to have kids TO pass the name on to. I guess it's personal preference, my uncle hyphenated his surname to add his (second) wife's surname, and has kept it even after divorcing. I'll probably go the same route, minus the divorce.