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Coronation of Marie Josèphe Rose Taschenr de La Pagerie
Photo: E Lessing / De Agostini / Getty Images
A "from" or "to" in the surname reads well, the reference to aristocratic descent may make a person more interesting: That's probably what the Frenchman Emmanuel Taché, 47, thought, who added "de la Pagerie« added.
But now the name suffix is causing problems for the newly elected MP from Marine Le Pen's extreme right-wing party, as "Le Monde" reports.
Three women, descendants of one of the oldest noble families in France, are now suing Taché de la Pagerie - because it is their name that he appropriated.
The politician said he added the name 30 years ago while working in fashion and broadcasting, according to The Guardian.
»In the arts and communications industry, it is completely normal to use a pseudonym or a preferred name.
The only restriction is that you can't pass it on to your children,” said Alexandre Varaut's lawyer.
He said Taché had been known to use the name for decades.
The most famous member of the noble family concerned was the Empress Joséphine de Beauharnais, who married Napoléon Bonaparte in 1796.
Her full name was Marie Josèphe Rose Taschener de La Pagerie.
"We have filed a lawsuit to protect the family name," said descendant attorney Frederic Pichon, according to the Guadian.
They are demanding symbolic damages of one euro and a fine of 500 euros per day if Taché continues to use their name.
Pichon said the aristocratic name was rare, there was "a risk of confusion in the eyes of the public."
In addition, the spellings Taché and Taschenr are different.
That could also be irritating.
"My clients are from Normandy but live in Paris and are the only heirs to bear that name since their father's death in 1993 - and one of his last wishes was for his name to be protected," Pichon said.
Taché de la Pagerie told Le Monde that he had just been elected and "had no time to deal with such things."
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