Colonial Hispanic America
In the colonial period and nineteenth century, it was common to have between one and three given names followed by a second name with a "de" (from) in front. For example, the SaintModern day
Children who are not recognized by their father or to be raised separately have been legally treated in two ways, changing from time to time according to the civil registration norms. One way is to be registered with only a first surname that is the mother's surname. The second way is to have the mother's surname as first surname and second surname. Another case is to only register the father's surname and not giving reference to the mother, in accordance with US naming customs. This can be done to avoid legal and clerical complications in the future.Argentina
Generally speaking, Argentinian family names usually consist of a single, paternal surname. However, due to the large number of people of Spanish descent, many Argentinians still use the surnames of both parents. In modern-day Argentina, it is not common for married women to adopt their spouse's surname after marriage, although in the past some did add the spousal surname after their own with a ''de'' (of), as in,Chile
Instead of ''primer apellido'' (first surname) and ''segundo apellido'' (second surname), legally, the following expressions are used: ''apellido paterno'' (paternal surname) and ''apellido materno'' (maternal surname). Both surnames are equally important and having two surnames is obligation for any person in birth registrations, the use of them are mandatory for any official document. Exceptionally some people may have only one surname, e.g.Colombia
In Colombia, the use is two surnames: first the paternal surname and then the maternal surname. Married women used to change their second last name for their husband’s first last name adding the preposition "de" between the two last names. However, in recent years, married women do not change their original family names for their husband's. Children who are not recognized by their father are registered with the two maternal surnames. Starting in 2021, parents can reverse this order by mutual agreement. The rule will be applied according to the type of couple: in the case of heterosexual couples, the order will be as in general practice (the first last name will be the paternal last name and the second last name will be the maternal last name). surname). Parents of the same sex may choose the order of both surnames of the children (either by birth or adoption) by mutual agreement. In case of disagreement, the order of the surnames is determined by lottery. The law also allows the correction of some of the names, the elimination of some of the names or surnames, inverting the surnames or the change of names and surnames.Cuba, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Puerto Rico
In Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Puerto Rico, both men and women carry their two family names (first their father's, and second their mother's). Both are equally important and are mandatory for any official document. Married women never change their original family names for their husband's. Even when they migrate to other countries where this is a common practice, many prefer to adhere to their heritage and keep their maiden name. They also use "de", as explained below.Ecuador
In Ecuador, a couple can choose the order of their children's surnames. Most choose the traditional order (e.g., ''Guerrero García'' in the example above), but some invert the order, putting the mother's paternal surname first and the father's paternal surname last (e.g., ''García Guerrero'' from the example above). Such inversion, if chosen, must be consistent for all children of the marriage.Uruguay
Uruguayans carry two surnames, as is the practice in most Spanish-speaking countries. Such custom has been recognized under Uruguayan laws No. 15.462 and 19.075. Regarding names, it is a common practice for Uruguayans to carry two names. Under Section 5 of Law No. 15.462, it is forbidden to the Officers of Public Registrars to register "''names that are extravagant, ridiculous, immoral or that may provoke a misunderstanding regarding the sex of the child on whom it is being imposed.''". Regarding surnames, according to those laws, if no agreement has been reached, the first surname shall be the father's surname (paternal surname), and the second surname shall be the mother's surname (maternal surname, or maiden surname). Women do not change their surnames upon marriage in Uruguay. In some instances, such as high society meetings, the partner's surname can be added after the person's surnames using the preposition de (of), but it is not a practice officially or legally provided, recognized or accepted. Since 2013, parents may invert this order by mutual agreement, at the naming of the first child of the couple. Subsequent children must be named following the same order, since once the order of the surnames has been established it cannot be changed. If there is no agreement on the order, the rule shall apply depending on the type of couple: in case of heterosexual couples, the order shall be as in general practice (first surname shall be the paternal surname and the second surname shall be the maternal surname). Same-sex parents may choose the order of both surnames of the children (either from birth or adoption) by mutual agreement. In case of disagreement the order of the surnames is determined by draw. For example, Natalia Marisa Oreiro Iglesias is the daughter of Carlos Florencio Oreiro Poggio and Mabel Cristina Iglesias Bourié. Note that the marriage between her parents did not mean that the mother lost her maiden surnames. In Uruguay, foreigners may retain use of their cultural naming customs, yet upon being granted the Uruguayan national identification document calledVenezuela
In August 2007, a draft law by the Venezuelan National Electoral Council thus sought to change the national Venezuelan naming customs:Civil Registry Organic Law Project: Limitation upon the inscription of names'' Article 106 "... ivil registrarswill not permit...arents Arents is a Dutch and German patronymic surname ("son of Arent (given name), Arent").pon their childrenthat expose them to ridicule; that are extravagant or difficult to pronounce in the official language; that contain familiar and colloquial variants that denote a confused identification, or that generate doubts about the determination of the sex. In these cases, the registrar will offer, as reference, a listing of the most common names and surnames... The names of boys, girls, or adolescents of the country's indigenous ethnic groups and the names of foreigners' children are excepted from this disposition...." Popular complaint against the naming-custom-limiting Article 106 compelled the Venezuelan National Electoral Council to delete it from the ''Civil Registry Organic Law Project''.
No se incluirá en anteproyecto de ley de registro civil artículo relacionado con los nombres
, National Electoral Council, 13 September 2007 It could be said that common names like Elvio Lado (which can be pronounced as "el violado", meaning "the raped one") or Mónica Galindo (which can be pronounced as "Moni caga lindo", meaning "Moni shits prettily") would count as an example of violation to this law.
The particle "de" (of)
In some instances, such as high society meetings, the husband's surname can be added ''after'' the woman's surnames using theconjunction Conjunction may refer to: * Conjunction (grammar), a part of speech * Logical conjunction, a mathematical operator ** Conjunction introduction, a rule of inference of propositional logic * Conjunction (astronomy), in which two astronomical bodies ...''de'' (of). Thus ''Leocadia Blanco Álvarez'', married to a ''Pedro Pérez Montilla'', may be addressed as ''Leocadia Blanco de Pérez'' or as ''Leocadia Blanco Álvarez de Pérez''. This format is not used in everyday settings and has no legal value (with the exception ofArgentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...and theDominican Republic The Dominican Republic ( ; es, República Dominicana, ) is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean region. It occupies the eastern five-eighths of the island, which it shares wit ...). In other nations doing so is frowned upon. The contemporary naming custom now practises the wife retaining hersurname In some cultures, a surname, family name, or last name is the portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family, tribe or community. Practices vary by culture. The family name may be placed at either the start of a person's full name .... The use of the husband's surname by a wife is typically encountered in social situations where the connection to the husband is being stressed. Her full formal married-name (''Ángela López Sáenz de Portillo'') is the documentary convention in only some Latin American countries. Where it exists, the custom provides her withceremonial A ceremony (, ) is a unified ritualistic event with a purpose, usually consisting of a number of artistic components, performed on a special occasion. The word may be of Etruscan language, Etruscan origin, via the Latin ''Glossary of ancient Rom ...life and death wife-names, ''Ángela López, Sra. de Portillo'' (Ángela López, Wife of Portillo) wherein ''Sra.'' (''señora'', "Mrs") connotes "wife"; and ''Ángela López Sáenz, vda. de Portillo'' (Ángela López Sáenz, Widow of Portillo), wherein vda. (''viuda'', "widow") denotes widowhood. Some names have the ''de'' conjunction without association to marriage at all. Instead they may reflect the geographical origin of the individual or that of the individual ancestors. Thus there are men namedJuan Ponce de León Juan Ponce de León (, , , ; 1474 – July 1521) was a Spanish explorer and '' conquistador'' known for leading the first official European expedition to Florida and for serving as the first governor of Puerto Rico. He was born in Santervá ...,José de Guzmán Benítez José de Guzmán Benítez (1857 – 28 October 1923) was Mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico, from 28 February 1901 until 1902. José de Guzmán Benítez is best known for his 1899 campaign initiative, presented to the people of Puerto Rico, asking for ...,Cristián de la Fuente Cristián Andrés de la Fuente Sabarots (; born March 10, 1974) is a Chilean-American actor, presenter, model and producer. Early life Cristian De la Fuente was born in Santiago, Chile, the only child of chemist Hugo de la Fuente (died 1996) an ...andOscar de la Renta Óscar Arístides Renta Fiallo (22 July 1932 – 20 October 2014), known professionally as Oscar de la Renta, was a Dominican fashion designer. Born in Santo Domingo, he was trained by Cristóbal Balenciaga and Antonio del Castillo. De la Renta .... In the following list some Hispanic American women who have used the suffix ''de'' between their paternal surname and their marital surname. *Eva Duarte de Perón Eva or EVA may refer to: * Eva (name), a feminine given name Arts, entertainment, and media Fictional characters * Eva (Dynamite Entertainment), a comic book character by Dynamite Entertainment * Eva (''Devil May Cry''), Dante's mother in t ...born: ''María Eva Duarte'' *Cristina Fernández de Kirchner Cristina Elisabet Fernández de Kirchner (; born 19 February 1953), often referred to by her initials CFK, is an Argentine lawyer and politician who has served as the Vice President of Argentina since 2019. She also served as the President ...born: ''Cristina Elisabet Fernández'' * Carolina Correa de Rojas born: ''Carolina Correa Londoño'' * Amparo Grisales de Tessarolo born: ''Amparo Grisales Patiño'' *Gabriela Rodríguez de Bukele Gabriela Roberta Rodríguez de Bukele (born Gabriela Roberta Rodríguez Perezalonso; 31 March 1986) is a Salvadoran educator, Prenatal and perinatal psychology, prenatal psychologist and the current First Lady of El Salvador, as the wife of the ...born: ''Gabriela Roberta Rodríguez Perezalonso'' * Patricia Marroquín de Morales born: ''Hilda Patricia Marroquín Argueta'' * Fabiana Rosales de Guaido born: ''Fabiana Andreina Rosales Guerrero''
Legal implications
The Hispanic preference for using the ''first'' surname from the father over the second surname from the mother occasionally results in serious legal problems in the United States, where, by social convention, most people have a first name, an optional middle name, and a single last name inherited solely from the father. For example, the 2006 decision on ''Corona Fruits & Veggies v. Frozsun Foods'', from one of theCalifornia Courts of Appeal The California Courts of Appeal are the state intermediate appellate courts in the U.S. state of California. The state is geographically divided along county lines into six appellate districts., held that a creditor had failed to perfect itssecurity interest In finance, a security interest is a legal right granted by a debtor to a creditor over the debtor's property (usually referred to as the ''collateral'') which enables the creditor to have recourse to the property if the debtor defaults in makin ...in thestrawberry The garden strawberry (or simply strawberry; ''Fragaria × ananassa'') is a widely grown hybrid species of the genus '' Fragaria'', collectively known as the strawberries, which are cultivated worldwide for their fruit. The fruit is widely ap ...crop of a debtor whose full true name was "Armando Muñoz Juárez."
Corona Fruits and Veggies, Inc. v. Frozsun Foods, Inc.
', 143 Cal. App. 4th 319, 48 Cal. Rptr. 3d 868 (2006). In accordance with Mexican naming convention, he frequently went by Armando Muñoz, and signed documents by that name, and the creditor's financing statement therefore referred to him as "Armando Muñoz." The court ruled: "Debtor's last name did not change when he crossed the border into the United States. The 'naming convention' is legally irrelevant In other words, under the California implementation of theUniform Commercial Code The Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), first published in 1952, is one of a number of Uniform Acts that have been established as law with the goal of harmonizing the laws of sales and other commercial transactions across the United States through UC ..., the debtor's "true last name" was Juárez (his maternal surname).
Indexing
According to theChicago Manual of Style (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ..., Spanish and Hispanophone names are indexed by the family name. In case there are two family names, the indexing is done under the father's family name; this would be the first element of the surname if the father's and mother's or husband's family names are joined by a ''y''. Depending upon the person involved, the particle ''de'' may be treated as a part of a family name or it may be separated from a family name. The indexing of Hispanophone names differs from that of Portuguese or Lusophone names, where the indexing occurs from the final element of the name.Indexes: A Chapter from The Chicago Manual of Style
Archive
.Chicago Manual of Style (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name .... Retrieved on December 23, 2014. p. 27 (PDF document p. 29/56).
References
{{Names in world culturesHispanic America The region known as Hispanic America (in Spanish called ''Hispanoamérica'' or ''América Hispana'') and historically as Spanish America (''América Española'') is the portion of the Americas comprising the Spanish-speaking countries of North, ...Spanish-language surnames