A-AMS 2016-17 Registration Reminder & Important Info/Events/Dates (8-8-2016) URGENT: A-AMS Parents/Guardians who have NOT registered yet. Online Registration is still open for Abingdon-Avon Middle School. If you have not already done so, then please go into Skyward and register your student(s) as soon as possible, as we need to prepare for the upcoming school year.
Mother's maiden name refers to the mother's unmarried name -- usually the surname before she married. Mary Jones married John Smith, so Jones was her maiden name and she is now Mrs John Smith (alternatively Mary Smith). If you had to explain it to a child (presumably a rather young one), I would suggest: Mother's maiden name was her real name before she married daddy.
Your mother's maiden name refers to her last name (surname, family name, whatever you call it) before getting married and adopting her husband's name. It used to be that young, unmarried women were referred to as maidens, hence the maiden name..