How do Hispanic last names work?

Spaniards have a personal name(s) followed by two surnames – the father's paternal family name and then the mother's paternal family name. For example: Hector Marίa GONZALEZ LÓPEZ. People may have two personal names (e.g. Hector Marίa).
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Which Hispanic last name goes first?

In Spain and Spanish American countries, except Argentina, each person has two surnames. Traditionally, the first surname is paternal and comes from the father, while the second surname is maternal and comes from the mother.
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How do Spanish last names work when married?

Marriage. In Spain, upon marrying, one does not change one's surname. 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).
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How do Mexican last names work when married?

Within the Hispanic tradition, the woman does not change her surnames when she gets married. Instead, the combination of our parents' first surnames represents the unity of two families and the formation of a new one. Hence, both surnames carry great value for many Hispanics.
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Why do Hispanics have 2 last names?

The two surnames names are ancestral, with the father's family name followed by the mother's family name. In Colombia, for example, “Ernesto Escobar Vega” uses two surnames (“Escobar Vega ”) as his legal name, with “Escobar” coming from his father and “Vega” coming from his mother.
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How Do Spanish Surnames Work? | Vlogmas 12



Why do Mexicans have 3 names?

Mexicans have a personal name(s) followed by two surnames – the father's paternal family name and then the mother's paternal family name. For example: Hector Marίa GONZALEZ LÓPEZ.
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Why do most Hispanic last names end with EZ?

It is suprising the number of Spanish surnames end in ez. This is because it means "son of", like the suffix -son and -sen in many German and Scandinavian languages. In Portuguese the -ez becomes a -es.
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Do Hispanics take their mother's last name?

In Latin America babies get two last names, the father's surname followed by the mother's paternal surname.
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Do Spanish wives take their husband's last name?

Spanish women do not change their name when they marry, and offspring are given the first surname of both their parents – regardless of whether their parents are married or not.
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Which last name goes first when married?

You can go the "traditional" route and list your "maiden" name first, or you could choose to list your new last name first, followed by your original last name. Some couples decide to have both partners change to the hyphenated last name, as a show of unity and equality.
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Why do Spanish people have 3 last names?

Once you become Spanish, you will be issued with a DNI. As Spaniards must have two surnames, you will have to come up with an extra surname. Many foreigners choose their middle name as first surname or use their mother's maiden name as second surname.
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What is the most Mexican last name?

List of the most common surnames in Mexico:
  • Hernández – 5,526,929.
  • García – 4,129,360.
  • Martínez – 3,886,887.
  • González – 3,188,693.
  • López – 3,148,024.
  • Rodríguez – 2,744,179.
  • Pérez – 2,746,468.
  • Sánchez – 2,234,625.
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Do Hispanics have two last names?

Hyphenated Names

By the way, Hispanics are not the only culture that uses two surnames, there are other cultures that use a similar scheme. There are even other cultures that have other combinations of surnames. So, to avoid confusion, a lot of Hispanics hyphenate their surnames, as I do with mine Pérez- Quiñones.
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What is the order of Hispanic last names?

Spaniards have a personal name(s) followed by two surnames – the father's paternal family name and then the mother's paternal family name. For example: Hector Marίa GONZALEZ LÓPEZ. People may have two personal names (e.g. Hector Marίa).
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Which last name should go first?

Which name goes first? It's totally up to you but it's most common for your last name to be the first (the person hyphenating) and your spouse's second (assuming your spouse isn't hyphenating). I'm choosing to hyphenate my last name. Does my spouse have to hyphenate too?
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How do Puerto Rican last names work?

Puerto Rico used the Spanish practice of using the last names of both parents. A child born would be given a first and middle name and then the first last name of the father followed by the first last name of the mother. (e.g. Maria Luisa Rivera Garcia.)
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Do Hispanics have middle names?

In Spanish-speaking cultures, we see either one or two first names, but there are no middle names. For example, a girl may be called María or María Isabel.
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Why do Colombians have 4 names?

Most Colombian names follow the Spanish naming convention. This is a personal name(s) followed by the father's paternal family name and then the mother's paternal family name, e.g. Jesús Marίa GONZALEZ LÓPEZ.
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How do Cuban last names work?

In Costa Rica, 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.
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Why do Mexicans put Don in front of names?

It is way to show respect. This title today is applied for different reasons: 1- To show respect, either for a economic or social status, experience or personal achievements. 2- To show good will to someone, especially if that person has a higher social status.
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Can a baby have 2 last names?

Some names lend themselves well to hyphenation while others don't. If you don't like hyphens but still want to use both names, your child can simply have two last names.
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What is the most Mexican boy name?

Most common Mexican boys' names
  • Santiago.
  • Mateo.
  • Leonardo.
  • Matías.
  • Sebastián.
  • Emiliano.
  • Diego.
  • Daniel.
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What are rare Hispanic last names?

Uncommon Last Names
  • Bigotes - Means "whiskers"
  • Escarra - Means "left-handed"
  • Ladrón - Means "thief"
  • Lanzo - Means "to throw"
  • Escobar- Comes from the word "escoba" meaning "broom"
  • Feo - Means "ugly"
  • Guerra - Means "quarrelsome person"
  • Padilla - Means "small frying pan"
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How do you alphabetize Hispanic last names?

Alphabetize Spanish names by the full surnames. Even persons commonly known by the maternal portions of their surnames, such as Lorca, should be alphabetized by their full surnames. A biographical dictionary may provide assistance in distinguishing surnames and given names.
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Why are Mexican last names so long?

Spanish surnames are often impressively long. That is because a child is given the surnames of both parents at birth. The first surname is that of the father, the second of the mother.
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