HISPANIC SURNAMES
In Spanish-speaking countries, kinship is very important and is reflected in
surnames (apellidos). Although the tendency in the U.S. is to anglicize surnames,
Spanish-speakers typically use their father’s and their mother’s last names. For
example, in the “pair” Martínez Pérez, Martínez is the individual’s father’s father’s
(i.e. paternal grandfather’s) name. Pérez is the name of the individual’s mother’s
father (maternal grandfather). When a woman marries, she adds her husband’s
father’s (first) surname and connects it to the rest of her names with “de”. In an
earlier age, the “de” probably carried the connotation of “belonging to (the
husband)” since wives were legally the property of their husbands.
Based on your current knowledge of Hispanic surnames, indicate which of the
following are properly “Hispanic” and explain your choice.
Arrizabalaga
Pons
Verniau
González
Lara
Perbet
Borbón/Bourbon
Jovellanos
Sévigny
Albuquerque