Policy-Discussion

[Iang <iang AT iang.org>]

Alejandro Mery Pellegrini (CAcert) wrote:
> > - In Spanish countries the surnames are a combination of the
> > parents names, in some formula I never quite understood.  I
> > suspect this can also have complications.
>
> It's pretty simple, it's not a combined surname, they are _two_ family
> names, one representing the family of the father and one the family of
> the mother. The child gets as first surname the first surname of his
> father and as second surname the first name of his mother. In normal
> life people only use the first family name (In my case just "Alejandro
> Mery", but on legal documents you _write_ both.


(slightly offtopic)

What happens for the next generation?  E.g., when you become 
a parent, what single family name is then passed on to your 
child?  And, does the formula change for the mother?

Also, is this limited to Spanish speaking countries?  Does 
Portuguese naming also follow this style?

iang