last name or surname? please help

Question

Hello everyoneI am working in a translation of a birth certificate from a Latino person.  Latinos always have two last names, and I have to be very accurate with my translation.   Which will be the best way to describe the two last names* Last names (s):* Surnames:* Surname (father family surname - mother family surname)Please help

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

From Wikipedia:

Currently in Spain, people bear a single or composite given name (nombre) and two surnames (apellidos). A composite given name comprises two (not more) single names; Juan Pablois considered not to be a first and a second forename, but a single composite forename. Traditionally, a person's first surname is the father's first surname (apellido paterno), and the second one is the mother's first surname (apellido materno). However, gender equality law has allowed surname transposition since 1999, subject to the condition that every sibling must bear the same surname order recorded in the Registro Civil (civil registry), but there have been legal exceptions.

From 2013, if the parents of a child are unable to agree on order of surnames, an official decides which is to come first. For example, if a man named Eduardo Fernández Garrido marries a woman named María Dolores Martínez Ruíz and has a child named Eduardo, there are several legal options, but their child would most usually be known as Eduardo Fernández Martínez.

Each surname can also be composite, the parts usually linked by the preposition de (of) or by a hyphen. For example, a person's name might be Juan Pablo Fernández de Calderón García-Iglesias, consisting of a forename (Juan Pablo), a paternal surname (Fernández de Calderón) and a maternal surname (García-Iglesias).

Hispano American naming customs are very similar to the two-surname personal appellation practised in Spain. This article highlights some of the differences that are found. Most Hispanic Americans, such as Rafael Vicente Correa Delgado, have one or two given names (Rafael Vicente, in the example), a paternal surname and a maternal surname. In this example the person may be referred to as Mr. Correa, or Mr. Correa Delgado, but never Mr. Delgado.

In some countries, a married woman may add the conjunction de (English: of) followed by the paternal surname of her husband after her own paternal surname. Thus, Teresa García is known as Teresa García de Madero because she married Manuel Madero. However, in some countries doing so is increasingly frowned upon. Many Hispanic Americans even use English given names because of US influence.

Good luck!

Elsaferguson · Answer

Thank you so much Micawber for this information, it is very useful ! So, do you think that my translation could be correct if I use:
Example
Name (first middle): Maria, Dolores
Surnames: Correa, Delgado

Do you think that the USA Civil Registry can understand this description?

Mister Micawber · Answer

I think that they might think the person had a choice of surnames (never underestimate the stupidity of the US civil service). I think you need to indicate in some way that both surnames names are present. How about something like this?

Names, first, middle: Maria, Dolores
Surnames, compounded : Correa y Delgado

Elsaferguson · Answer

That sounds better!! thank you so much !
Have a wonderful rest of the day

Colombo · Answer

I think the best option would be:

Name: María Dolores
Surnames: Correa Delgado

Don't use commas. In the case of the name, it's one name, not two. And as for the surnames, no one would write the comma in Spanish, and in English, I think I will lead to less confusion if whoever reads it considers it as a single surname made up of two words (like, for example, in Bulwer-Lytton). If you feel like putting something in between, put a hyphen. Seeing such a thing hurts my eyes, but it's the solution for many people (for example, for those who send research papers to international journals).

Elsaferguson · Answer

Thank you Colombo for your comments, I liked very much!  I took your suggestions on my translation it looks very nice!

Colombo · Answer

Don't mention it! I'm glad to have been of any help to you.

last name or surname? please help

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