Naming conventions are one of the most common questions I receive from those who are still getting the hang of researching Mexican, Hispanic, or Spanish genealogy. Understanding these conventions is critical for finding records, tracing the right people, and for confirming identity and kinship. If you are not aware of the applicable naming customs for a particular group of people, in a particular place, at a particular time, you will likely find yourself chasing the wrong person. You will also miss key clues for identifying and connecting other family members.
The customs I reference in this post pertain to families from Mexico, the rest of Latin America, and Spain. This is part-two in my new “Genealogy Quick Tips” video series focusing on Hispanic naming customs.
This Quick Tip focuses on the contemporary dual surname system formalized with the introduction of civil registration in each country following independence from Spain.
My next Quick Tip will focus on given names. To make sure you don’t miss it, subscribe to my blog and/or my YouTube channel.
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