El apellido de la madre primero que el del padre

Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Feb 3, 2008, 02:11:

This is already the practice in Portugal AFAIK.

It does make some sense, even if not all children stay automatically with their mothers in case of divorce or separation, at least not here in Europe.

It would also mean that the maternal last name would become the "official" one if only one last name is used, which seems to be fairly common in Spain, especially with people that are public figures or celebs.

I wonder how the traditionally machista societies in S.A. would accept this kind of novel thing; the child would not carry father's last name first...it's not that long ago carrying your mum's last name was the cause of major social stigma and discrimination; it meant that you were "hijo/a natural", not recognized by your father, not accepted in prestigious schools, shunned as a possible partner etc.

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Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Feb 3, 2008, 05:36:

I'm going to move this topic to "Friendly Talkzone". It's about Argentina, but I believe it can be tied to Colombia too, as the society is changing and these name matters follow a certain trend.
I hope it's alright with you ,gabo.

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ColombianoGringo (Moderator) (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Feb 3, 2008, 08:22:

MaFe says on Feb 3, 2008, 08:48:

My family in Spain all have their father's last name.
I also had an exchange student when I was in High school, his family is very well known, and the children (now men) have always used the father's name. Is that new in Spain Desi for celebs, or public figures to use maternal last names?

"All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsions, habit, reason, passion, desire. "-Aristotle

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Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Feb 3, 2008, 09:19:

Yes and no.

Pablo Picasso used his mum's last name. His father's last name was Ruiz, but nobody remembers it any longer. His full name (best be forgotten too:
Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Martyr Patricio Clito Ruiz y Picasso)

Two modern "celebs" that use mum's last name because their fathers' last names are too ordinary and common: are José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and Ana Victoria García Obregon, a Spanish actress.

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Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Feb 3, 2008, 09:30:

I just wanted to add a little info on a recent change in the Spanish legislation concerning last names. It's perfectly legal now to reverse the order of the paternal/maternal surnames to maternal/paternal instead but all children in the family must follow the same rule.

"In Spain, a recent reform in the law allows the parents to choose whether the father's or the mother's surname goes first, although this order must be equal for all their children. For instance, the son of the couple in the example above would be "Andrés Gómez Reyes" or "Andrés Reyes Gómez". [1] Sometimes, for single mothers or when the father wouldn't (or couldn't) recognize his child, the mother's surname has been used twice: for example, "Ana Reyes Reyes". In Spain, however, children with just one parent receive both surnames of that parent, although the order may also be changed."

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