Traditional Hispanic last names

Hispanic names often are confusing. This is because it can be difficult to determine exactly what is the person's last name when we have our own format in mind.


Let's take a look at a sample name: Rosa María Muñoz Izquierdo. 1) Rosa María is the woman's name -nombre or nombre cristiano. María is not her middle name - it is part of what we would call her first name. 2) Muñoz is her father's last name -or apellido paterno- this is what we would call her "last name"! 3) Izquierdo is her mother's last name (maiden name) -or apellido materno- and is used only in conjunction with her father's last name. It is not what we would call her `last name'. It is only part of her complete last name. 4) So, we can call her Rosa María Muñoz, Rosa María Muñoz Izquierdo, señora Muñoz or Ms. Muñoz Izquierdo. But we do not call her *Ms. Izquierdo!

This can be complicated when a woman marries.

Let's say Rosa María marries Ramón Gómez González. She will take Ramón's paternal last name (the first of his two last names.)
Many Hispanic countries use the conjunction 'de' to show it is a married last name.

Rosa María Muñoz Izquierdo is now called any of the following:


Rosa María Muñoz de Gómez Rosa María Muñoz Izquierdo de Gómez Rosa María Muñoz Gómez. Her primary last name is still Muñoz.

When Ramón Gómez González and Rosa María Muñoz Izquierdo have a son, Mauricio Raúl,

his full name will be Mauricio Raúl Gómez Muñoz.
their daughter Patricia Luisa's full name is Patricia Luisa Gómez Muñoz.

Many second and third generation Hispanics in this country will have adapted to the United States system of names. In this case, they will follow the traditional first-name/last-name pattern of names.


Write your name in the Hispanic fashion below: ______________________ __________________ __________________ de_________________________ first names father's last name mother's last name husband's father's last name (if you are a married woman) When you are confused about the names, it may help to remember your own name written this way.

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