Why does the guys have 2 last names in Uruguay South America?

Question

Why does the guys have 2 last names in Uruguay South America?

Answer 1

All people in Spanish and ex Spanish countries, have a double barreled name.  First is thier Mothers surname and second thier fathers surname.   This goes with them their whole life, women do not change thier names.  Their fathers surname carries to the next generation

Answer 2

Yep, what people have said here is true. I had my father's last name as well as my mother's last name.

Kind of equalitarian, if you ask me.

Answer 3

They have the last name of Mother and Father.

Answer 4

Yes it's true but its backwards, first your dad's last name (as in the US) and then your mother's maiden name. And it's not only in Uruguay, this is a tradition passed on by the Spanish conquistadors, to all the spanish-speaking american countries.

For ex. your dad's last name is Moore and your mom's maiden name is Thompson, then you would be Gail Marie Moore Thompson. And some women change it when they get married, but when you do, you add "de", for example you get married to someone who's last name is Lopez, then you would be Gail Marie Moore de Lopez, here you lose your mom's maiden name.

Fun huh?

Answer 5

In most Spanish countries the children take the last names of their mother and father. When they get married they don't change their names, so that's how the name get's carried on.