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Understanding surnames and given names can help you find and identify your ancestors in Argentine 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 Argentina. Hereditary surnames were well-established when Spaniards brought them to Argentina.


Before record keeping began, most people had only one name, such as Juan or Maria. As the population increased, it became necessary to distinguish between individuals with the same name. The problem was usually solved by adding descriptive information. Until the 10th century, common people did not use a surname. The Council of Trent (1545 to 1563) made it mandatory to keep parish records that would list names of the child, 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>
==="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, some Moorish names such as Ben-egas became Venegas.  In France, placing de was a mark of nobility, but in Spain 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.
===Native Indian Surnames===
Spanish priests would often assign Indian family names as surnames. In Argentina, many surnames of Spanish origin were given to the native Indian children when the priests baptized them. Others were simply baptized Juan, José, María, and so on, and later descendants obtained a surname.


=== '''Influences in a Surname''' ===
== Given Names  ==
*In Argentina, 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 Argentina, 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>


The four influences that played a part in the development of Spanish surnames were patronymical, occupational, descriptive or nickname, and geographical (estates, manors, and dominions) terms. 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.'''  Based on a parent's name, such as Juan Martinez (Juan son of Martin)  and Juan Dominguez (Juan son of Domingo).'''<br />'''
*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)}}
** '''Occupational.''' Based on the person's trade,such as José Herrera (José the blacksmith) and Juan El Molinero (Juan the Miller).'''<br />'''
*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)}}
** '''Descriptive or nickname.''' Based on a unique quality of the person, such as Domingo Calvo (Domingo bald headed) and Juan El Moreno (Juan the Dark).
*'''''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.)
** '''Toponymic. '''Based on a person's residence, such as Domingo del Rio (Domingo from near a river) and Juan de Córdova (Juan from Cordova).  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.
===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}}
**{{FSC|337528|subject_id|disp= Argentina - Names, Personal}}
**{{FSC|1098434|subject_id|disp= Argentina - Names, Personal - Dictionaries}}


Surnames were first used by the nobility and wealthy landowners. Later the custom was followed by merchants and townspeople and eventually by the rural population. This process took two or three centuries. In Spain the name system was well established by the 1100s. The naming customs of Spain became the basis for other Spanish–speaking countries.
==References==
<references/>
[[es:Tradiciones en cuanto a nombres de Argentina]]


It is not possible to determine the exact year or even the century when a particular family name was taken. By the end of the 13th century main families determined to retain the patronymic without continuing to change the name from generation to generation. Thus, the hereditary surnames (apellidos) were in use by the time of the discovery of the New World.
[[Category:Argentina]]
 
[[Category:Naming Customs]]
In Latin America many surnames of Spanish origin were given to the native Indians and African children when the priests baptized them. Others were simply baptized Juan, José, Maria, and so on, and later descendants obtained a surname.
 
Typical surnames from various parts of Spain include Castillan (Fernandez, Morales), Basque (Ibanez, Vasquez), Gallego (Brétema, Seoane), Portuguese (Coelho, Ferreira), and Catalán (Ventura, Gralla). The following suffixes of surnames show that they had a patronymic origin: az, ez, iz, oz, and uz. However the scribes and priest often spelled the patronymic surnames with s instead of the z, and they changed the plural surname ending in s to a z.
 
Therefore, the plural forms of surnames may be confused with the patronymic surname. Examples of plural names include Torres and Flores. Spanish priests would often assign Indian family names as surnames. Some Indian surnames have been translated, such as Dzul to Caballero (gentleman), Dzib to Escribano (scribe).
 
Another distinctive practice of the Spanish naming system was the double and compound surnames; a person would be known by his paternal and maternal surnames. Compound surnames (apellidos compuestos) can be found with or without a y, a dash (-), or a preposition (de, del, de la). Examples are: Maria Garcia Fernández de León and José Juan Ríos-Prado y Rodríguez.
 
While most present-day names are taken from the parents’ surnames, historically the surnames might be those of the more prominent family and even those of the grandparents.
 
Historically, before the last 150 years, women did not take their husbands’ surname. Now a woman who married a Martinez would attach the married surname (apellido de casada) de Martínez to her first single (paternal) surname (apellido de soltera). And when she was widowed she would become Viuda (widow) de Martínez. Thus a complete name of a single woman named María Josefa Torres Sepulveda on marrying would become María Josefa Torres de Martínez.
 
In telephone directories an Alonso Manuel de la Vega Martinez may be listed as VEGA MARTINEZ, Alonso Manuel de la, and the same person on announcements or on business cards could be listed as Alonso Manuel de la Vega M.  A widow Ofelia Castillo a. de León could be listed as LEÓN, Ofelia Castillo vda once she married.
 
'''The following books are helpful for understanding naming practices:'''
 
** Gosnell, Charles F. ''Spanish Personal Names: Principles Governing their Formation and Use Which May Be Presented As a Help for Catalogers and Bibliographers.'' New York, New York, USA: The H. W. Wilson Company, 1971. (FHL book 980 D4go.)
** Mugica, José A. ''Los Apellidos de Iberia: Su Orgen y Evolución. ''(The Surnames of Iberia: Their Origins and Evolution). Bilbao, Spain: Editorial EDILI, S.A., 1966. Equipo de expertos 2100.
** ''Gran Diccionario de los Nombres de Persona. ''(Gran Dictionary of Person’s Names). Barcelona, Spain: Editorial de Vecchi, 1998. (FHL book 946 D46g.)
 
== Given Names ==
 
In Latin America many given names are usually derived from Biblical names such as José (Joseph, husband of Mary), saints such as Roque (Roch), or Old German given names such as Sigfrido. 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 have been the name of the saint of the day of baptism. The first name or baptismal name (nombre de Pila) may not have been used in the child's life. The child could be called by the second or third name given at baptism, especially if the first name was María or José.
 
'''Many books are available that discuss Spanish names and their meanings. Books that provide meanings for given names include:'''
 
** Gorden, Raymond L. ''Spanish Personal Names. ''Yellow Springs, Ohio, USA: Antioch College, 1968. (FHL book 980 D4g; film 0924066 item 1.)
** Tibon, Gutierre. ''Diccionario Etimologico Compartado de Nombres Propios de Persona.'' (Dictionary of Ethnological Comparison of Given Names). Mexico: Union Tipografica-orial Hispano-American, 1956. (FHL book 980 D4t.)
** Cutolo, Vicente Osvaldo. ''Apodos y Denominativos en la historia Argentina.'' (Nicknames and Denominatives in Argentine History.) Buenos Aires, Argentina: Editorial Elche 1974. (FHL book 982 H2c.)
** Tanodi, Aurelio. ''Interpretación Paleográfica de nombres Indigenas.'' (PaleographicInterpretation of Indian names). Córdoba, Spain: Universidad de Córdoba, 1965. (FHL book 982 G3t; film 0896929 item 1.)

Latest revision as of 11:19, 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[edit | edit source]

Surnames[edit | edit source]

Historical Development of Surnames[edit | edit source]

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 Argentina. Hereditary surnames were well-established when Spaniards brought them to Argentina.

Surname Customs[edit | edit source]

  • 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]

"de (of)", "y (and)", and "e (and)"[edit | edit source]

  • 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]

Native Indian Surnames[edit | edit source]

Spanish priests would often assign Indian family names as surnames. In Argentina, many surnames of Spanish origin were given to the native Indian children when the priests baptized them. Others were simply baptized Juan, José, María, and so on, and later descendants obtained a surname.

Given Names[edit | edit source]

  • In Argentina, 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 Argentina, 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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

  • 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[edit | edit source]

  • 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[edit | edit source]

Additional books are listed under:

References[edit | edit source]

  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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