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Understanding surnames and given names can help you find and identify your ancestors in records.
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'''Understanding customs used in surnames and given names can help you identify your ancestors in records. Learn to recognize name variations and see clues in names.'''
|}
==Online Tools==
*[https://script.byu.edu/spanish-handwriting/tools/names/general '''List Of Surnames''']
*[https://script.byu.edu/spanish-handwriting/tools/names/general '''List Of Given Names''']
*[https://script.byu.edu/spanish-handwriting/tools/abbreviations '''Abbreviations''']
*[https://surnames.behindthename.com/names/usage/spanish '''Behind the Name: Spanish Surnames''']
*[https://www.behindthename.com/names/usage/spanish '''Behind the Name: Spanish Given Names''']
*[https://www.familysearch.org/en/surname '''FamilySearch's surname experience'''] - enter your last name to find its meaning and origin


=== Surnames ===
== Surnames ==
===Historical Development of Surnames===
See, [[Spain Naming Customs#Surnames Historical Development|'''Surnames Historical Development in Spain Naming Customs'''.]] In Spain, the name system was well established by the 1100s, and the naming customs of Spain became the basis for other Spanish-speaking countries. The historical development of these practices, described in this article, all took place in Spain before they began colonizing Peru. Hereditary surnames were well-established when Spaniards brought them to Peru.


Before record keeping began most people had only one name, such as Juan. As the population increased, it became necessary to distinguish between individuals with the same name. Until the 10<sup>th</sup> century, common people did not use a surname. The problem of distinguishing people with the same names was usually solved by adding descriptive information. The Council of Trent (1545–1563) made it mandatory to keep parish records that would list names of children, parents, and godparents.
===Surname Customs===
*The typical Spanish name has '''four parts''': first given name, second given name, father's surname, and mother's surname.
*When a woman marries a man, she '''keeps her maiden surname'''. In the Catholic records, public records, legal records and especially the civil records, the maiden name of a woman is always used.
*Often, the practice is to use one given name and the first surname most of the time (e.g. "Miguel de Unamuno" for Miguel de Unamuno y Jugo); the complete name is typically reserved for legal, formal, and documentary matters. <ref>"Spanish naming customs", in Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_naming_customs, accessed 19 February 2021.</ref>
*The most common type of family name in Peru is the patronymic surname. Alvarez, Fernandez, Garcia, Chávez, Díaz, and Gonzales(z) are examples of common surnames.
*Because of immigration to Peru, there are also '''many surnames of other nationalities'''. For example Arizmendi is Basque, Benalcázar is Arabic, Chu is Chinese, and Fujimori is Japanese.
*In the records a surname may be preceded by the words '''alias, tambien conocido como, conocido como, or llamado, all referring to an alias''', which may have later become a surname, used in addition to a surname. This practice is not common in official Spanish records.
==="de (of)", "y (and)", and "e (and)"===
*In Spanish, the preposition particle '''"de" ("of")''' is used as a conjunction in two-surname spelling styles, and to disambiguate a surname, e.g. Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba, Pedro López de Ayala, and Vasco Núñez de Balboa, as in many conquistador names.
*In the sixteenth century, the Spanish adopted the conjunction '''"y" ("and")''' to distinguish a person's surnames, e.g. Luis de Góngora y Argote or Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes. The conjunction '"y" avoids confusion when the paternal surname might appear to be a given name. Without it, the Santiago Ramón y Cajal might appear to be named Santiago Ramón and surnamed Cajal, when actually his given name is Santiago and Ramón y Cajal is his surname.
*When the maternal surname begins with an "i" vowel sound (written with I, Y, Hi + consonant), Spanish substitutes '''"e in place of y"''', e.g. Eduardo Dato e Iradier.<ref>"Spanish naming customs", in Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_naming_customs, accessed 19 February 2021.</ref>


In 1568 Phillip II decreed that the Moors should abandon their names and adopt Spanish names. Thus, Moorish names such as Ben-egas became Venegas. The French practice of placing de before a name as a mark of nobility was also used in Spain, but it was only a preposition of origin (of or from) used before a geographic name. From long usage, names such as Del Monte became Delmonte and La Villa became Lavilla.
== Given Names  ==
*In Peru, many given names are usually derived from biblical names, such as José (Joseph, husband of Mary) or from the names of a saint, such as Bartolomé (Bartholomew). Some Spanish people used compound given names (nombres compuestos) such as María del Socorro.  
*When baptized, children were usually given one or more given names. One of these might be the name of the Saint Day from the day of baptism. The first name, or baptismal name (nombre de pila), may not have been used in the child’s life. In Peru, the child was usually called by the second or third name given at baptism; this is especially true if the first name was María or José.
===Name Endings ===
Spanish names also may be gendered by way of spelling. In general, only '''male names end with "o"''': e.g., Francisco. Only '''female names end with "a"''': e.g., Francisca.
===Use of María, José (Joseph), and Jesús===
*'''Girls are often named María, honouring the Virgin Mary''', by appending either a shrine, place, or religious-concept suffix-name to María.
*In daily life, such women '''omit the "Mary of the ..." nominal prefix''', and use the suffix portion of their composite names as their public, rather than legal, identity. Hence, women with Marian names such as María de los Ángeles (Mary of the Angels), María del Pilar (Mary of the Pillar), and María de la Luz (Mary of the Light), are normally addressed as Ángeles (Angels), Pilar (Pillar), and Luz (Light); however, each might be addressed as María.
*'''Nicknames''' such as Maricarmen for María del Carmen, Marisol for "María (de la) Soledad" ("Our Lady of Solitude", the Virgin Mary), Dolores or Lola for María de los Dolores ("Our Lady of Sorrows"), Mercedes or Merche for María de las Mercedes ("Our Lady of Mercy"), etc. are often used.
*Also, parents can simply name a girl María, or Mari without a suffix portion.
*'''It is not unusual for a boy's formal name to include María''', preceded by a masculine name, e.g. José María Aznar (Joseph Mary Aznar) or Juan María Vicencio de Ripperdá (John Mary Vicencio de Ripperdá). Equivalently, a girl can be formally named María José (Mary Joseph), e.g. skier María José Rienda, and informally named Marijose, Mariajo, Majo, Ajo, Marisé or even José in honor of St. Joseph.
*'''María as a masculine name is often abbreviated''' in writing as M. (José M. Aznar), Ma. (José Ma. Aznar), or M.ª (José M.ª Morelos).
*It is unusual for any names other than the religiously significant María and José to be used in this way except for '''the name Jesús''' that is also very common and can be used as "Jesús" or "Jesús María" for a boy and "María Jesús" for a girl, and can be abbreviated as "Sus", "Chus" and other nicknames.<ref>"Spanish naming customs", in Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_naming_customs, accessed 19 February 2021.</ref>


In Spain, the name system was well established by the 1100s, and the naming customs of Spain became the basis for other Spanish-speaking countries. The four influences that played a part in the development of Spanish surnames were patronymical terms, occupational terms, descriptive or nickname terms, and geographical terms (estates, manors, or dominions). Examples of these influences are:
==For Further Reading==
*[https://www.fbiic.gov/public/2008/nov/Naming_practice_guide_UK_2006.pdf '''A GUIDE TO NAMES AND NAMING PRACTICES, UK Names Guide''']
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_naming_customs '''Spanish naming customs'''] in Wikipedia.


·         Patronymic names (based on a parent’s name, usually the father’s) such as Juan Fernandez (Juan, son of Fernando) or Juan Martinez (Juan, son of Martin).
*Gorden, Raymond L. '''''Spanish Personal Names. Yellow Springs, Ohio: Antioch College, 1968.''''' (FS Library book 980 D4g; film 0924066.){{WorldCat|989943624|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}}
*Gosnell, Charles F. '''''Spanish Personal Names, Principles Governing Their Formation and Use.''''' New York: H.W. Wilson Co., 1938 (reprinted by Blaine Ethridge Books, Detroit, 1971). (FS Library book 980 D4go.){{WorldCat|252910443|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}}
*'''''Gran Diccionario de los nombres de persona, origen, significado y onomástica de más de 5.500 nombres (Great Dictionary of Personal Names, Origin, Significance and Onomastics of the Major 5,500 Names).''''' Barcelona: Editorial de Vecchi, S.A., 1998. (FS Library book 946 D46g.)
===FamilySearch Library===
Additional books are listed under:<br>
**{{FSC|337527|subject_id|disp= Spain - Names, Personal}}
**{{FSC|787231|subject_id|disp= Spain - Names, Personal - Dictionaries}}


·         Occupational names (based on the person’s trade) such as Francisco Ferrera (Francisco the Blacksmith) or José El Molinero (José the Miller).


·         Descriptive names or nicknames (based on a unique quality of the person) such as Felipe el Bueno (Felipe the Good) or Domingo Calvo (Domingo the Bald-Headed).
==References==


·         Toponymic names (based on a person’s residence) such as Francisco de Córdoba (Francisco from the city of Córdoba) or Domingo del Río (Domingo from near a river).


At first, surnames applied only to one person and not to the whole family. After a few generations, these names became hereditary and were used from father to son.


Surnames were first used by the nobility and wealthy land owners. Later the custom was followed by merchants and townspeople and eventually by the rural population. This process took two or three centuries. This practice was already well established in Spain prior to the Conquest.


The most common type of family name in Peru is the patronymic surname. Alvarez, Fernandez, Garcia, Chávez, Díaz, and Gonzales(z) are examples of common surnames. Because of immigration to Peru, there are also many surnames of other nationalities. For example Arizmendi is Basque, Benalcázar is Arabic, Chu is Chinese, and Fujimori is Japanese.
[[es:Tradiciones en cuanto a nombres de Perú]]
 
[[Category:Peru]]
In the records a surname may be preceded by the words alias, tambien conocido como, conocido como, or llamado, all referring to an alias, which may have later become a surname, used in addition to a surname. This practice is not common in official Spanish records.
[[Category:Naming Customs]]
 
Books that discuss Spanish surnames are:
 
Godoy Alcantara, José. Ensayo Histórico Etimológico Filológico sobre los Apellidos Castellanos (A Historical, Etymological, Philological Study on Spanish Surnames). Barcelona: Ediciones El Albir, 1975. (FHL book 946 D4g; film 1183629 item 10.)
 
Wold, Lillian Ramos. Hispanic Surnames: History and Genealogy. Fullerton, Calif.: Society of Hispanic Historical and Ancestral Research, 1994. (FHL book 946 D4h.)
 
Platt, Lyman D. Hispanic Surnames and Family History. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1996. (FHL book 980 D43p.)
 
=== Given Names ===
 
Present-day Spanish has influences from Hebrew, Latin, German, French, Italian, Greek, Arabic, and Catalan. Peruvian given names are usually derived from Spanish Biblical names, such as José; the names of a saint, such as Juana; or from old German given names, such as Sigfrido.
 
When baptized, children were usually given two names, such as José María or María del Socorro. Some of these may be the names of parents or other relatives. Today, children may be named without regard to the original meaning of the name, named after the saint day, or named after a favorite relative. In Peru the child was usually called by the first name given at baptism.
 
Given names are translated into 23 different European languages (including English) in:
 
Janowowa, Wanda, and others. Sownik Imion (Dictionary of Names). Wroclaw: Ossoli[1]ski, 1975. (FHL book 940 D4si; film 1181578 item 2; fiche 6000839.)
 
Many books discuss names and their meanings. Books that provide understanding of Spanish names include:
 
Gordon, Raymond L. Spanish Personal Names. Yellow Springs, Ohio: Antioch College, 1968. (FHL book 980 D4g; film 0924066.)
 
Gosnell, Charles F. Spanish Personal Names, Principles Governing Their Formation and Use. New York: H.W. Wilson Co., 1938 (reprinted by Blaine Ethridge Books, Detroit, 1971). (FHL book 980 D4go.)
 
Gran Diccionario de los nombres de persona, origen, significado y onomástica de más de 5.500 nombres (Great Dictionary of Personal Names, Origin, Significance and Onomastics of the Major 5,500 Names). Barcelona: Editorial de Vecchi, S.A., 1998. (FHL book 946 D46g.)

Latest revision as of 20:06, 20 March 2024


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Understanding customs used in surnames and given names can help you identify your ancestors in records. Learn to recognize name variations and see clues in names.

Online Tools

Surnames

Historical Development of Surnames

See, Surnames Historical Development in Spain Naming Customs. In Spain, the name system was well established by the 1100s, and the naming customs of Spain became the basis for other Spanish-speaking countries. The historical development of these practices, described in this article, all took place in Spain before they began colonizing Peru. Hereditary surnames were well-established when Spaniards brought them to Peru.

Surname Customs

  • The typical Spanish name has four parts: first given name, second given name, father's surname, and mother's surname.
  • When a woman marries a man, she keeps her maiden surname. In the Catholic records, public records, legal records and especially the civil records, the maiden name of a woman is always used.
  • Often, the practice is to use one given name and the first surname most of the time (e.g. "Miguel de Unamuno" for Miguel de Unamuno y Jugo); the complete name is typically reserved for legal, formal, and documentary matters. [1]
  • The most common type of family name in Peru is the patronymic surname. Alvarez, Fernandez, Garcia, Chávez, Díaz, and Gonzales(z) are examples of common surnames.
  • Because of immigration to Peru, there are also many surnames of other nationalities. For example Arizmendi is Basque, Benalcázar is Arabic, Chu is Chinese, and Fujimori is Japanese.
  • In the records a surname may be preceded by the words alias, tambien conocido como, conocido como, or llamado, all referring to an alias, which may have later become a surname, used in addition to a surname. This practice is not common in official Spanish records.

"de (of)", "y (and)", and "e (and)"

  • In Spanish, the preposition particle "de" ("of") is used as a conjunction in two-surname spelling styles, and to disambiguate a surname, e.g. Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba, Pedro López de Ayala, and Vasco Núñez de Balboa, as in many conquistador names.
  • In the sixteenth century, the Spanish adopted the conjunction "y" ("and") to distinguish a person's surnames, e.g. Luis de Góngora y Argote or Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes. The conjunction '"y" avoids confusion when the paternal surname might appear to be a given name. Without it, the Santiago Ramón y Cajal might appear to be named Santiago Ramón and surnamed Cajal, when actually his given name is Santiago and Ramón y Cajal is his surname.
  • When the maternal surname begins with an "i" vowel sound (written with I, Y, Hi + consonant), Spanish substitutes "e in place of y", e.g. Eduardo Dato e Iradier.[2]

Given Names

  • In Peru, many given names are usually derived from biblical names, such as José (Joseph, husband of Mary) or from the names of a saint, such as Bartolomé (Bartholomew). Some Spanish people used compound given names (nombres compuestos) such as María del Socorro.
  • When baptized, children were usually given one or more given names. One of these might be the name of the Saint Day from the day of baptism. The first name, or baptismal name (nombre de pila), may not have been used in the child’s life. In Peru, the child was usually called by the second or third name given at baptism; this is especially true if the first name was María or José.

Name Endings

Spanish names also may be gendered by way of spelling. In general, only male names end with "o": e.g., Francisco. Only female names end with "a": e.g., Francisca.

Use of María, José (Joseph), and Jesús

  • Girls are often named María, honouring the Virgin Mary, by appending either a shrine, place, or religious-concept suffix-name to María.
  • In daily life, such women omit the "Mary of the ..." nominal prefix, and use the suffix portion of their composite names as their public, rather than legal, identity. Hence, women with Marian names such as María de los Ángeles (Mary of the Angels), María del Pilar (Mary of the Pillar), and María de la Luz (Mary of the Light), are normally addressed as Ángeles (Angels), Pilar (Pillar), and Luz (Light); however, each might be addressed as María.
  • Nicknames such as Maricarmen for María del Carmen, Marisol for "María (de la) Soledad" ("Our Lady of Solitude", the Virgin Mary), Dolores or Lola for María de los Dolores ("Our Lady of Sorrows"), Mercedes or Merche for María de las Mercedes ("Our Lady of Mercy"), etc. are often used.
  • Also, parents can simply name a girl María, or Mari without a suffix portion.
  • It is not unusual for a boy's formal name to include María, preceded by a masculine name, e.g. José María Aznar (Joseph Mary Aznar) or Juan María Vicencio de Ripperdá (John Mary Vicencio de Ripperdá). Equivalently, a girl can be formally named María José (Mary Joseph), e.g. skier María José Rienda, and informally named Marijose, Mariajo, Majo, Ajo, Marisé or even José in honor of St. Joseph.
  • María as a masculine name is often abbreviated in writing as M. (José M. Aznar), Ma. (José Ma. Aznar), or M.ª (José M.ª Morelos).
  • It is unusual for any names other than the religiously significant María and José to be used in this way except for the name Jesús that is also very common and can be used as "Jesús" or "Jesús María" for a boy and "María Jesús" for a girl, and can be abbreviated as "Sus", "Chus" and other nicknames.[3]

For Further Reading

  • Gorden, Raymond L. Spanish Personal Names. Yellow Springs, Ohio: Antioch College, 1968. (FS Library book 980 D4g; film 0924066.)At various libraries (WorldCat)
  • Gosnell, Charles F. Spanish Personal Names, Principles Governing Their Formation and Use. New York: H.W. Wilson Co., 1938 (reprinted by Blaine Ethridge Books, Detroit, 1971). (FS Library book 980 D4go.)At various libraries (WorldCat)
  • Gran Diccionario de los nombres de persona, origen, significado y onomástica de más de 5.500 nombres (Great Dictionary of Personal Names, Origin, Significance and Onomastics of the Major 5,500 Names). Barcelona: Editorial de Vecchi, S.A., 1998. (FS Library book 946 D46g.)

FamilySearch Library

Additional books are listed under:


References

  1. ↑ "Spanish naming customs", in Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_naming_customs, accessed 19 February 2021.
  2. ↑ "Spanish naming customs", in Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_naming_customs, accessed 19 February 2021.
  3. ↑ "Spanish naming customs", in Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_naming_customs, accessed 19 February 2021.
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