In Latin America, do women still add their husband's name when they get married?

Question

I'd heard that, traditionally, in Latin America, women added their husband's name to their own two surnames, preceded by 'de'. So when Anna Maria Vazquez Rodriguez married Senor Martinez she became Anna Maria Vasquez Rodriguez de Martinez. Or possibly Anna Maria Vasquez de Martinez. Does this still happen, or is it true that many women just hang onto their own names these days?

Answer 1

Yes they still have that custom, as well as here in Spain. Its tradition.

Take care..

Bcn_mimosa from Barcelona...

Answer 2

No, it's not as common as it used to be. A woman may use her husband's last name after 'de' for social purposes, like when she's going to introduce herself to someone and she wants people to know she's a married lady... or in similar occasions.

But her legal documents normally keep her maiden names (both)  

Getting your husband's name is something that doesn't automatically happens like in the English speaking countries.

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Answer 3

In Colombia it's no longer a custom to do so. One can chose to omit the 'de' prefix of the husband's surname. However some couples like it, especially if it is a Catholic marriage.

Nowadays it’s rather difficult to drop the 'de' after a divorce, there is a lot of paperwork involved, and thus this deters most people from using it.

Answer 4

Any one of your three ideas are correct.  It is the option of the woman and/or her husband.  I am married to a Latin lady and she uses her fathers sur name followed by de and my last name.  For example: Anna Maria Vasquez de Martinez.  Sometimes Anna will be Anna Maria Martinez Vasquez.

Answer 5

It all depends on your personal taste! When I married, I decided not to go with my husband's name as I prefered to be called by my maiden name. I am a teacher and I have been known as Miss X in school for a while so I didnt want to go by Miss Y now!! I know many women my age who do not add their husband's name.

However, legally, your ID, Passport and Drivers license have to have the "married" in legal status even if you still carry your maiden name.

I guess that years ago, it was sort of traditional to immediatley add your husband's name to yours and become "Señora de X". Nowadays when women work equally as men and women have a career, some of us prefer to remain as Miss X, in spite of being legally married.

Answer 6

On legal documents in latin america women almost never change their last names. They are always legally known by their birth name until they die, but may be socially known as Sra. de Martinez. It's not common in latin america to actually change your last name, that is a tradition of the english speaking world. Even my aunt who is married to my uncle, never changed her last name because that is not the custom in colombia.  

For the guy on top of me, your are referring your question to which country? In the united states, yes that is perfectly legal to hyphenate your name, many women do it.

Answer 7

They still do if only as an indication that they are married; In the East(especially in India) the bride even loses her maiden name and is given a new name by the In-Laws. husbands's name works as her middle name and the family name(surname) replaces  her maiden surname. It is almost as it were that she is reborn and is given a new identity.They say in Japan funeral rites of the girl being married at her parents and a birth ceremony at her husband's place symbolic of rebirth.

Answer 8

Actually I have a question to add to this question ....i am getting married and really have no preference for how my bride chooses her married name but she wants to hyphenate her name with mine----is that legal---?  so in your example she would be Mrs. Rodriguez-Martinez.

Answer 9

I'm from Perú. Many married women had a identification card for years with the name since they born, for example my mother she still has an identification card with the same name as single!!!!! cashh!!.. but currently the goverment is making marriage people change the real status, actually some have the real status, but no everyone. Now women who get married change the name if i'm kryshita Martines Morales and i'm got married  with Kryshito Perez Paredes my name will be Kryshita Martines  Perez or Kryshita Martinez de Perez, just an example, the word "de" it's not so important, there are last names like "Kryshita Del Carpio A." that's a complete last name. Generally the second last name of a women married desappear. gl

i hope u understand

Answer 10

Well, I'm going to talk about my country: PANAMA

In Panama, that law was abolished in 1994 and Women now can keep their own names or if they like they can add her husbands' surname