Comments on: What’s the deal with last names in Spain? http://erikras.com/2009/01/28/whats-the-deal-with-last-names-in-spain/ Thoughts and photos from an American living in Spain. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:32:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Anw25 http://erikras.com/2009/01/28/whats-the-deal-with-last-names-in-spain/#comment-8728 Anw25 Sat, 22 Oct 2011 16:19:00 +0000 http://www.erik-rasmussen.com/blog/?p=1591#comment-8728 One more thing you missed: Nowadays, under Equality of Genders Law, spanish children can be borned with their mother's surname instead of their father's, as it was tradition. Example: Helena A_ E_ marry Antonio H_ T_, and they have children. Their children can be A_ H_ or H_ A_, that's something Helena and Antonio have to discuss, reach a mutual agreement of which surname survives. One more thing you missed:

Nowadays, under Equality of Genders Law, spanish children can be borned with their mother’s surname instead of their father’s, as it was tradition. Example:

Helena A_ E_ marry Antonio H_ T_, and they have children. Their children can be A_ H_ or H_ A_, that’s something Helena and Antonio have to discuss, reach a mutual agreement of which surname survives.

]]> By: bawa http://erikras.com/2009/01/28/whats-the-deal-with-last-names-in-spain/#comment-8725 bawa Fri, 21 Oct 2011 10:45:00 +0000 http://www.erik-rasmussen.com/blog/?p=1591#comment-8725 When I got married in the UK 25 years ago, we asked about how I could follow the Spanish custom of keeping my name. The legal answer was "There is no law in England that says a women has to take on her husband's surname and give up her own: it is a matter of social convention that women change their surnames" If you do want to change, you go around to the banks and stuff with your marriage certificate, and they will do it for you, but its entirely up to you. Lastly, you might want to register the marriage with a Spanish Consulate if you want to get a Libro de Familia. When I got married in the UK 25 years ago, we asked about how I could follow the Spanish custom of keeping my name. The legal answer was “There is no law in England that says a women has to take on her husband’s surname and give up her own: it is a matter of social convention that women change their surnames”
If you do want to change, you go around to the banks and stuff with your marriage certificate, and they will do it for you, but its entirely up to you.
Lastly, you might want to register the marriage with a Spanish Consulate if you want to get a Libro de Familia.

]]> By: Erik R. http://erikras.com/2009/01/28/whats-the-deal-with-last-names-in-spain/#comment-8720 Erik R. Sun, 16 Oct 2011 19:42:00 +0000 http://www.erik-rasmussen.com/blog/?p=1591#comment-8720 That's entirely up to the woman getting married. That’s entirely up to the woman getting married.

]]> By: Bea216 http://erikras.com/2009/01/28/whats-the-deal-with-last-names-in-spain/#comment-8719 Bea216 Sun, 16 Oct 2011 19:40:00 +0000 http://www.erik-rasmussen.com/blog/?p=1591#comment-8719 how does it affect a spanish woman marrying an emglish man in england? how does it affect a spanish woman marrying an emglish man in england?

]]> By: bawa http://erikras.com/2009/01/28/whats-the-deal-with-last-names-in-spain/#comment-8694 bawa Wed, 05 Oct 2011 18:36:00 +0000 http://www.erik-rasmussen.com/blog/?p=1591#comment-8694 Have to totally agree with Erik. Have never seen-heard what you say and have been living here for over 20 years now.   Have to totally agree with Erik. Have never seen-heard what you say and have been living here for over 20 years now.
 

]]> By: Erik R. http://erikras.com/2009/01/28/whats-the-deal-with-last-names-in-spain/#comment-8693 Erik R. Tue, 04 Oct 2011 21:13:00 +0000 http://www.erik-rasmussen.com/blog/?p=1591#comment-8693 I have to disagree with your "usually and normally" statement. Perhaps you're speaking of the situation a generation or so ago, but I've never seen this "de [husband's paternal last name]" phenomenon. Can you cite any cases of famous people I might've heard of (or could look up on Wikipedia or something)? Maybe you're thinking of countries other than Spain? I have to disagree with your “usually and normally” statement. Perhaps you’re speaking of the situation a generation or so ago, but I’ve never seen this “de [husband's paternal last name]” phenomenon. Can you cite any cases of famous people I might’ve heard of (or could look up on Wikipedia or something)?

Maybe you’re thinking of countries other than Spain?

]]> By: Azael http://erikras.com/2009/01/28/whats-the-deal-with-last-names-in-spain/#comment-8691 Azael Tue, 04 Oct 2011 20:53:00 +0000 http://www.erik-rasmussen.com/blog/?p=1591#comment-8691 While largely accurate, yet this explanation rather overlooks the entire name situation when a woman marries.  While, true, she retains her last name (paternal, in any event), yet she does usually and normally add her husband's paternal last name by tacking on "de [husband's paternal last name]" as follows: Let's say that Maria Elena Vasquez Sanchez marries Eduardo Ramon Pereira Alvarado.  As explained above, the paternal last name for both would be Vasquez (for Maria Elena) and Pereira (for Eduardo).  After marriage, while Eduardo's name does not change, yet Maria's would as follows:  Maria Elena Vasquez de Pereira.  (Sanchez, the maternal last name, is for all intents and purposes dropped in all but the most official of records) From then on, Maria will be commonly called...  Senora Maria Elena (or simply Maria) Pereira.  Or... Senora Pereira. Thus... their custom is rather similar to our own regarding a woman's last name change to that of her husband's.  This is rather similar to the English/American system now fairly common in which a woman will likewise include her maiden last name (that of her father) and add her married last name, thereafter (e.g., Katherine Anderson McClelland), sometimes as a hyphenated, especially following a divorce (e.g., Katherine Anderson-McClelland). While largely accurate, yet this explanation rather overlooks the entire name situation when a woman marries.  While, true, she retains her last name (paternal, in any event), yet she does usually and normally add her husband’s paternal last name by tacking on “de [husband's paternal last name]” as follows:

Let’s say that Maria Elena Vasquez Sanchez marries Eduardo Ramon Pereira Alvarado.  As explained above, the paternal last name for both would be Vasquez (for Maria Elena) and Pereira (for Eduardo). 

After marriage, while Eduardo’s name does not change, yet Maria’s would as follows:  Maria Elena Vasquez de Pereira. 

(Sanchez, the maternal last name, is for all intents and purposes dropped in all but the most official of records)

From then on, Maria will be commonly called…  Senora Maria Elena (or simply Maria) Pereira.  Or… Senora Pereira.

Thus… their custom is rather similar to our own regarding a woman’s last name change to that of her husband’s.  This is rather similar to the English/American system now fairly common in which a woman will likewise include her maiden last name (that of her father) and add her married last name, thereafter (e.g., Katherine Anderson McClelland), sometimes as a hyphenated, especially following a divorce (e.g., Katherine Anderson-McClelland).

]]> By: Azael http://erikras.com/2009/01/28/whats-the-deal-with-last-names-in-spain/#comment-8692 Azael Tue, 04 Oct 2011 20:53:00 +0000 http://www.erik-rasmussen.com/blog/?p=1591#comment-8692 While largely accurate, yet this explanation rather overlooks the entire name situation when a woman marries.  While, true, she retains her last name (paternal, in any event), yet she does usually and normally add her husband's paternal last name by tacking on "de [husband's paternal last name]" as follows: Let's say that Maria Elena Vasquez Sanchez marries Eduardo Ramon Pereira Alvarado.  As explained above, the paternal last name for both would be Vasquez (for Maria Elena) and Pereira (for Eduardo).  After marriage, while Eduardo's name does not change, yet Maria's would as follows:  Maria Elena Vasquez de Pereira.  (Sanchez, the maternal last name, is for all intents and purposes dropped in all but the most official of records) From then on, Maria will be commonly called...  Senora Maria Elena (or simply Maria) Pereira.  Or... Senora Pereira. Thus... their custom is rather similar to our own regarding a woman's last name change to that of her husband's.  This is rather similar to the English/American system now fairly common in which a woman will likewise include her maiden last name (that of her father) and add her married last name, thereafter (e.g., Katherine Anderson McClelland), sometimes as a hyphenated, especially following a divorce (e.g., Katherine Anderson-McClelland). While largely accurate, yet this explanation rather overlooks the entire name situation when a woman marries.  While, true, she retains her last name (paternal, in any event), yet she does usually and normally add her husband’s paternal last name by tacking on “de [husband's paternal last name]” as follows:

Let’s say that Maria Elena Vasquez Sanchez marries Eduardo Ramon Pereira Alvarado.  As explained above, the paternal last name for both would be Vasquez (for Maria Elena) and Pereira (for Eduardo). 

After marriage, while Eduardo’s name does not change, yet Maria’s would as follows:  Maria Elena Vasquez de Pereira. 

(Sanchez, the maternal last name, is for all intents and purposes dropped in all but the most official of records)

From then on, Maria will be commonly called…  Senora Maria Elena (or simply Maria) Pereira.  Or… Senora Pereira.

Thus… their custom is rather similar to our own regarding a woman’s last name change to that of her husband’s.  This is rather similar to the English/American system now fairly common in which a woman will likewise include her maiden last name (that of her father) and add her married last name, thereafter (e.g., Katherine Anderson McClelland), sometimes as a hyphenated, especially following a divorce (e.g., Katherine Anderson-McClelland).

]]> By: Robinbooth http://erikras.com/2009/01/28/whats-the-deal-with-last-names-in-spain/#comment-8651 Robinbooth Mon, 19 Sep 2011 10:59:00 +0000 http://www.erik-rasmussen.com/blog/?p=1591#comment-8651 brill explanimation, well done, keep up the good work, this is great... understood loveltyly.. i love you brill explanimation, well done, keep up the good work, this is great… understood loveltyly.. i love you

]]> By: Katsx http://erikras.com/2009/01/28/whats-the-deal-with-last-names-in-spain/#comment-8407 Katsx Sat, 11 Jun 2011 19:06:00 +0000 http://www.erik-rasmussen.com/blog/?p=1591#comment-8407 I had completely forgotten that I posted this a year ago. My boyfriend an I got engaged last month and have just started searching the Internet again re the name issue! You are all completely right and I am coming around to the idea of not changing my name. I think it's more the fact that in England on the wedding day so much is made of talking about Mr and Mrs blah blah that I just find it a bit strange. Anyway it will be lovely for our kids to have my surname as well :-) thank you for taking the time to help me!xx I had completely forgotten that I posted this a year ago. My boyfriend an I got engaged last month and have just started searching the Internet again re the name issue! You are all completely right and I am coming around to the idea of not changing my name. I think it’s more the fact that in England on the wedding day so much is made of talking about Mr and Mrs blah blah that I just find it a bit strange. Anyway it will be lovely for our kids to have my surname as well :-) thank you for taking the time to help me!xx

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