Iberian naming customs

:Please note that this article relates to the customs of contemporary Iberians, not the ancient Iberian people.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In Spanish, Portuguese, and Catalan speaking regions of the world, people have at least two surnames. One is inherited from the father, the other from the mother. Parents pass on to their children the name they inherited from their father.

Related Topics:
Spanish - Portuguese - Catalan

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In most Spanish speaking countries, the father's surname is written before the mother's surname, although there are occasional exceptions to this rule. Thus, for instance, Vicente Fox Quesada is Señor Fox (Mr. Fox in English), not Señor Quesada, and "Fox" is not his middle name.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In Portuguese speaking countries, the father's surname is in most cases after the mother's surname. In these countries, it is very frequent that children get two surnames from each of their parents, thus having usually the last surname of each of their grandparents.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The traditional naming conventions are now changing as attitudes toward gender equality evolve. In Portugal, since 1977, the child's last name can come either from the father or from the mother, but the latter is still very uncommon.

Related Topics:
Portugal - 1977

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~