# Spanish surnames
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spanish-surnames/252385
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports
**Created:** [June 27, 2004, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spanish-surnames/252385 "2004-06-27T06:45:52Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2004, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spanish-surnames/252385/1 "2004-06-27T06:45:52Z")
In The Master’s column about [Spanish-language surnames](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_389b.html) he mentions the custom by married women of taking the husband’s name by adding ‘de’ after her paternal surname and then the husband’s paternal surname. This is not so much a comment as it is an enquiry: here this only has a social value. There is no legal name change, and most women don’t even use it socially.
Did The Master forgot to mention that there is no ‘legal’ name-change? Or are there some Spanish-speaking countries (I doubt it) where women take their husband’s name? Or maybe he didn’t see the importance in telling us abou it.
Lame I know, but I am curious. My husband’s family was surprised that I didn’t take my husband’s name when we married. I had to explain that it is impossible and unheard of around here (not to mention that I wan to keep my own 🙂 )
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### Author:  [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2004, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spanish-surnames/252385/2 "2004-06-27T06:47:19Z")
Pls. ignore the mispellings. I always forget to preview :smack: