It isn't news that men get paid more than women for the same work; even among employees just starting their careers.

The pay gap may or may not be closing, though some may argue that the disparity misses the point, given other gains for women as forces in the global economy.

But it turns out there may also a pay gap even among women — based on their their choice of names, of all things, according to a study by the Tilburg Institute, reported on the New York Times web site.

Analyzing Dutch population data, researchers found that students drew dramatically different conclusions about women's personal and professional promise based on whether or not they thought these women had changed their names when they got married.

Students viewed women who adopted their husbands' names as less ambitious and less competent (but on the flip side, more caring).

And when students evaluated fictional job candidates, women who kept their maiden names were perceived as more likely to get the job and to be awarded higher salaries — by approximately $1,200 a year, on average.

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http://blogs.hbr.org/hbr/hbreditors/2010/04/whats_in_a_last_name_a_bigger.html?cm_mmc=npv-_-DAILY_ALERT-_-AWEBER-_-DATE