The Study of Racialism

pinpanpun · New User Joined: 27 May 2006 {Posts: 24 }

by Maurilio E. Vigil

One of the most fascinating but long-ignored branches of linguistics concerns the origin and evolution of names. The study of surnames reveals not only the source of one's ancestors but also the historical development of a people.

In the case of Spanish surnames, the names reveal vestiges of Spanish civilization left from the Roman conquest, such as the Latin language, as well as subsequent influences of conquerors such as the Germanic peoples (Vandals, Visigoths) and later the Arabs or Moors.

The 16th century was the greatest epoch in Spanish history. Exploration and colonization during that century spread Spanish civilization worldwide. The greatest remnants of the Hispanic heritage are the 18 countries in Latin America where Hispanic culture and language survive. Hispanic culture and language also have been pervasive in the United States. This influence began when the United States acquired the Southwest with its large Hispanic population and has continued with migration to the United States from Latin America.

Spanish surnames probably first appeared during the Roman domination of the Iberian peninsula (approximately a.d. 222 to 409). Third-century documents identify persons such as Juan Escudero (John the Squire), Pedro Hidalgo (Peter the Noble) and even a four-part name in the Roman tradition, Juan Escudero Bastardo de Hinojosa (John the Illegitimate, squire from the town of Hinojosa).

The use of surnames among the Spanish continued through the Germanic (5th century) and the Moorish (8th century) invasions and dominance of the Iberian peninsula.

The origins of Spanish surnames are diverse, influenced by the many dialects spoken in Spain and by other characterizations. Some names have religious origins, such as the saint names of Roman Catholic apostles; others stem from historical and mythological characters. Still other names can be traced to flora, such as Rosas (roses); fauna, such as Leon (lion); occupations, such as Barbero (barber); personal characteristics, such as Delgado (slim), or honors and titles, such as Escudero (the squire). Most Spanish surnames, however, have patronymic, toponymic or personal origins.

Patronymic names, those taken from the name of the father, are the most prevalent. The name Martinez, meaning "the son of Martin," is an example of the patronymic. Martin means "warlike man" and comes from Mars, the Roman god of war. Another example is Diaz, the son of Dias, meaning "days." Often, these surnames can be distinguished by their endings, usually az, ez, iz, oz or uz.

The second form of surnames, toponymic, is attributed to some geographic feature or location. Often these names come from places of residence, whether a district, province, city, town or village. Other names represent rivers, mountains and valleys or similar geographic features. Garcia is the most widespread surname in the Hispanic world and comes from Garcia, a village in Spain. It is derived from the Basque word artza, meaning "principe de vista" (crown prince). Many toponymic surnames identify one or more villages in Spain.

The third category of Spanish surnames is personal, referring to a descriptive personal characteristic of one sort or another. These names can be divided into various types.

One group of surnames represents a physical characteristic of the bearer. Alarcon, for instance, means "the tall one." It derives from the Latin phrase largus, or "large."

A second type of personal surname identifies the occupation of the individual, or at least the individual to whom the name was first applied. Among these are Herrera and Ferrer, which like their Anglo counterpart—Smith—apply to the occupation of metalworker or blacksmith.

A third type of personal surnames relates to attitudes or behavioral traits of those to whom the name was first applied. The name Alegre, for example, stems from the Latin alecer, meaning "happy, spirited and sprightly."

A fourth category derives from miscellaneous characteristics. Casados refers to the idea of eternally married. Nieto, a name from the Latin nepas, means "grandson."

The common surname Baca could fall in either the personal or toponymic categories, depending on which of two stories about its origins is true. The name is an abbreviated version of Cabeza de Vaca, meaning head of cow. One legend has it that the name was given to an Andalusian cattle herder. But there's another story that a man was christened Cabeza de Vaca after he used a cow's head to mark an escape path for Spanish soldiers fleeing from Moorish invaders.

Another type of Spanish surname is attributed to religious origins, reflecting the strong influence of the Catholic Church in Spain. Santana, for example, is a combination and contraction of Santa Ana, the name of a town in Spain. The name Santillanes results from the combination and contraction of the Latin name of Sancta Juliana.

Many Spanish surnames come from the conquerors of Spain at some time in history. Besides Latin names, Germanic words also led to surnames: Aleman (German), Rangel (from ragin-walt, meaning "mighty ruler") and Roybal (from the word hrode-bold, meaning famous and bold one). Arabic words led to names such as Aland (from al-garida, a piercing Moorish war cry) and Anaya (from ainahaya, meaning "stagnant water").

Some Spanish surnames are more numerous than others. There also is variation in the frequency of surnames found in different parts of the Hispanic world.

The 10 most common surnames in Spain are, in order of frequency, (1) Garcia, (2) Fernandez, (3) Gonzaies, (4) Martinez, (5) Lopez, (6) Perez, (7) Rodriguez, ( Cool

Sanchez, (9) Gomez and (10) Martin.

By way of comparison, the 10 most common names in Albuquerque, from a recent Albuquerque metropolitan telephone directory, are (1) Garcia, (2) Martinez, (3) Chavez, (4) Sanchez, (5) Gonzales, (6) Montoya, (7) Romero, ( Cool

Baca, (9) Gallegos and (10) Trujillo.

So what's in a name? While our Spanish surnames no longer describe us as they once did our ancestors, they represent a gift from the past, a gift handed down over generations and through centuries to remind us about who we are and where we came from. Our surnames also will be a gift to our posterity. In this way our surnames provide one way to achieve a bit of immortality.

Maurilio E. Vigil is a professor of political science at New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas. He is the author of several books, including The Hispanics of New Mexico and Los Patrones: Profiles of Hispanic Leaders in New Mexico. His most recent book published by the University Press of America is Hispanics in American Politics.

oevega · Posted: Sun 13 Aug 2006 00:02 Post subject: Nice article

Nice article!

By the way, one of the most common Hispanic last names comes from English. Is Guzman, which is the translation of the last name Goodman.

I would like to comment that not only the last names are old but that all the common Hispanic last names have their own heraldic shield, which are very old as well. However, there are several version of shields for the same name so one is never certain which one to use Laughing

This are examples of the Vega shield. I don't know which was is the real one Wink

And my mother's family name, Martinez, there is not agreement either

By the way, the Hispanics have the custom to use simultaneously both the father and mother's last names. Portugueses and Brazilians do the same but the mother's last name go first.

Omar Vega-Martinez

mul2std · Experienced User Joined: 23 May 2006 {Posts: 104 }

i worked w/ a girl whose name was xochitl, which is Nahuatl Aztec. i thought that was such a nice name. i looked it up and it means flower (and she pronounced it "so-shee"). if i were of mexican heritage i would consider naming my child something Aztecian or Mayan instead of sticking w/ spanish names.

oevega · Posted: Sun 13 Aug 2006 04:20 Post subject: Aztecs

pepinno · New User Joined: 20 Jul 2009 {Posts: 19 } Location: Spain