J.K. Rowling’s married surname from her first marriage was Arantes.
She married Portuguese television journalist Jorge Arantes in 1992. The marriage ended in divorce in 1995, and they have one daughter, Jessica, who was born in 1993. Rowling later returned to using Rowling professionally.
The author’s public name can obscure this part of her biography. Her birth name was Joanne Rowling, while the “K” in J.K. was added for publishing purposes. “Arantes” was the surname connected with her first marriage, not the name used for the Harry Potter books.
Rowling later married Scottish doctor Neil Murray in 2001. They have two children, David and Mackenzie. These separate marriages are why biographical accounts may mention both Arantes and Murray in connection with her life.