The following instructions will assist in interpreting and recording Spanish language names correctly. Although INS files reflect some discrepancies, these guidelines were used in recording most Hispanic names. Note that the instructions do not apply to names from other Latin-based languages; e.g., Portuguese, French, Italian, or Rumanian.
Many Spanish first names consist of more than one word, for example, Maria de los Angeles, Maria de la Luz, and Maria del Carmen. When written with a prepositional phrase, as in the examples above, the name should be treated as one first name. If the name is not recorded with a prepositional phrase, for example, Maria Luz or Maria Carmen, it should be considered first and middle names.
In recording Spanish names, nicknames should not be used. Many Spanish first names have equivalent nicknames, which are commonly used as first names, for example, Pancho for Francisco or Pepe for Jose.
Spanish and Latin American persons customarily use the surnames of both parents. This double surname is derived from the first surname of the father and the first surname of the mother. Neither name is considered a middle name. The surname of the father precedes that of the mother.
The two surnames may be connected by the letter "y" which means "and." For example, Juan Gomez y Conde has Juan as a first name, Gomez as the surname of the father, and Conde as the surname of the mother. Neither name is considered a middle name. The surname of the father precedes that of the mother.
The preposition "de" with the articles "el," "la," "los," or "las" will appear in a number of surnames. For example, the surname may be shown as de la Torre, de Albe, del Arco, or de la Cruz. Prepositions of this nature that precede the first surname are ignored in indexing. For example, the name of Jose de la Torre Munoz is recorded at Torre Munoz, Jose de la.
When she marries, a woman commonly drops the surname of her mother and adds the first surname of her husband, preceded by the preposition "de." This indicates that she is the "wife of" that man. Maria Gomez, when married to Juan Martinez Ramirez, would become Maria Gomez de Martinez and will be recorded as Gomez de Martinez, Maria.
In the event of the husband's death, the woman retains the same name and the phrase "vda.de," meaning "widow of." For example, after her husband's death the woman's name would be Maria Gomez vda. de Martinez and should be recorded as Gomez vda. de Martinez, Maria.
Note that the woman's first surname never changes, according to traditional Hispanic usage. After admission to the US, however, some women have adopted the American custom of using the husband's surname as their own. Maria Gomez de Martinez may begin to give her name as Martinez, Maria Gomez.
Issued June 13, 2003; reviewed March 16, 2012