Why do Mexicans have 4 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.

Why do Hispanic people have multiple last names?

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.

Why do people have 4 names?

In many Western societies, people have given names (one or more) and a family name. The family name, also called “surname” or “last name” of a new born child is typically the name of either of the parents (traditionally, the father's name was used). The other names are chosen by the parents.

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.

How many names does a Mexican child commonly have?

Surname Conventions in Mexico

So according to Mexican naming tradition, a child may have four names (two first names and two surnames) or three names (one first name and two last names) in all.

Spanish Surnames Explained

Why do Mexicans have so many names?

You may wonder why people from Spanish speaking countries have such long names. This is because we have usually two family names (surnames), when not more. Following an ancient tradition, when a child is born, he/she receives the first surname from the father and the second surname is the first surname of the mother.

What is the most Mexican last name?

Why do Spanish people have 4 last names?

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. In principle, then, children never have exactly the same surnames as their parents.

How do Hispanic double last names work?

Surnames. In Spanish cultures, people traditionally have 2 surnames. The first is the paternal surname (apellido paterno), the father's first surname, and the second is the maternal surname (apellido materno), the mother's first surname.

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.

Can I legally have 4 names?

Yes. It is common in American culture to have a first name, a middle name, and a last name.

What does 4 mean in names?

A person with a name number 4 usually has a good health. Such a person is hard working and earns a lot of money. But, he is never able to save any money as such a person spends money lavishly. People with name number 4 usually have a different point of view about everything.

Is 4 names too many?

There is nothing wrong with four names as not many people are going to know the full name but like cece says it's a total PITA on forms, takes forever to write out etc. Also it might be wise to save up one for future children, so you don't run out. DS has two middles names but all three names are not very long.

Why don t hispanics have middle names?

To sum up, Hispanics have dos nombres (two names) and dos apellidos (two surnames). Sometimes, Hispanics have only a first name because the middle name is not obligatory. Also, it can happen that a dad did not admit paternity of a child. In this case, such a child would carry the mother's last name only.

Do Mexicans have 2 first names?

Mexicans are given two first names for a variety of reasons that range from religious to cultural and family reasons. However, when it comes to the last names, there is a traditional system for passing down a surname, or “apellido.”

Why do Mexicans not have middle names?

In México we don't have “middle” names or “last" names. We follow the Spanish naming convention, which consists in having one or more given names, followed by a paternal family name and a maternal family name.

How do you address a Mexican with two last names?

For example: Hector Marίa GONZALEZ LÓPEZ. The first of the surnames (the father's family name) is used alone to address people, whilst the second family name (the mother's) is rarely used in isolation. For example, Hector Marίa GONZALEZ LÓPEZ would be appropriately abbreviated as Hector GONZALEZ.

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.

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.

What is the most basic Hispanic last name?

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.

What is the rarest last name in Mexico?

According to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi), the rarest surname that exists in Mexico is nothing more and nothing less than Zugasti. This surname is only carried by 20 people in the entire national territory, which has Basque origin and means a grove of elm trees.

Why do Mexicans use 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.

What is an uncommon Mexican last name?