What are the rules for double surnames in Spain?

For the last two hundred years surnames in Spain have been passed from parents to children according to the same general rule. People have two surnames, which are inherited from their parents. The first surname is the father's first surname and the second the mother's first surname.

How do Spanish double last names work?

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.

How do you address a Spanish person with two last names?

This is usually the first of the two surnames as they appear in writing, meaning that Anna Martínez García would usually be referred to as señora Martínez, and her partner Luis Sanchez Pérez would be referred to as señor Sanchez.

How many surnames can you have in Spain?

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. Basically, you cannot be Spanish and not have two surnames.

What is the rule for surnames in Spain?

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).

Spanish Surnames Explained

How do two last names work?

A hyphenated last name is when you and your spouse combine both of your last names with a hyphen. This is also called a double surname. In many states, when you fill out your application for your marriage license, you'll be writing your intended married name on that application.

Do you take your husband's last name in Spain?

Custom dictates that women keep their surnames in many Spanish-speaking countries as well, including Spain and Chile.

Can I legally have 2 last names?

A hyphenated last name would be Smith-Jones or Jones-Smith. It's your choice which name comes first. Hyphenating your last name is considered a legal name change – meaning you can't drop your spouse's name or the hyphen in the future without having to go through a court-ordered name change.

What is an example of a double surname?

In British tradition, a double surname is heritable, usually taken to preserve a family name that would have become extinct due to the absence of male descendants bearing the name, connected to the inheritance of a family estate. Examples include Harding-Rolls and Stopford Sackville.

Which last name goes first?

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.

Why do Hispanics have two surnames?

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.

Why do Hispanics take both last names?

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.

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.

Why do so many Spanish last names end with EZ?

the -ez suffix

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.

How do Spanish surnames 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).

What are the disadvantages of having two last names?

What happens if you have two last names?

Can Americans have two last names? If your two last names do not have a hyphen between them, people may think it is one of your middle names. It is legal to have as many names as you want, as long as the name is registered as your legal name.

Can a US citizen have two last names?

Answer: U.S. citizens are required to use their current legal names on their U.S. passports. Unless you can provide documentation that proves sole use of that one last name instead of two, you need to include both last names in your passport application.

Can I have two surnames after marriage?

Using Both Surnames

The husband's surname is simply suffixed to yours and it's a win-win for both. Many women also choose to use their maiden name in the work sphere as it has become their brand identity but on documents, they get their names modified. And so, they use both names with ease.

Can a girl keep two surnames?

A woman can choose if she wants to continue with the surname she has been living with throughout her life, replace her existing surname with that of her husband's or add her husband's surname to her existing one. It is completely her choice, and no law in India demands a woman to change her surname after marriage.

Do I have to take both of my husband's last names?

No. When you marry, you are free to keep your own name or take your husband's name without a court-ordered name change. The same is true whether you're in a same-sex or opposite-sex marriage.

When a person has two last names How do you alphabetize?

Ignore the hyphen and alphabetize considering the first part of the hyphenated name. Ignore ampersands (&) joining two or more proper names.

How do you initialize two last names?

For example, a double name would be "M-SXW." If you have a hyphenated last name and want to keep the hyphen in your monogram, the order would be "First Name" in small font size, "Maiden Name" in larger font size, a hyphen, "Husband's Last Name" in larger font size, "Middle Name" in small font size.

When someone has two last names how do you address them?

The same way you address someone with one last name: you use the last name, whether it is one name or two names or hyphenated. For example, if the person's name is Powlett Jones, you address him as Mr. (or if female, Mrs. or Miss or Ms, depending upon her status) Powlett Jones.

Why do Puerto Ricans have 2 last names?

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.)