ClippedWing said:
Can you all help me with some unusual Spanish surnames?
I'm writing a story and it's important that I have an unusual spanish last name.
Like I got "Apezteguia" from my Cuban boyfriend that's his last name but I dont' know if I like that one.
Do you all know of any? Also are there any spanish names that are Dominican or locale specific? I'm assuming most Dominican, Cuban, Puertorican, etc.. surnames all originate from Spain but I could be wrong.
Smooches...Clip.
Your boyfriend certaninly has one, if not the most, unusual surname I have ever seen or heard. I guess only he and his family have that surname among Cubans. It seems it is a Basque family name. Most surnames in Hispanic America originated in Spain. Many are Basque and, of those, many are so familiar now that they sound like other Spanish surnames: Echevarria, Ochoa, Aguirre etc. Still, most Basque names sound strange like your boyfriend's. I have noticed that, in some countries, some surnames are more abundant or common than in other countries, for example, among the most common surnames in Puerto Rico you find Rivera and Colon. Fernandez, Perez, Rodriguez are very common in Cuba, while Cabrera is found a lot in the three Spanish speaking Caribbean countries, as well as in Central America. Among Canary Islanders who emigrated to these countries or regions, this surname was very common.
In addition to this, not all surnames which have become common in Latin America came from the Iberian Peninsula. Many French surnames are found in Cuba and other countries, also many of Arabic origin are found everywhere, including DR. Italian, Slavic and German surnames are very common in South America's southern cone. Now, if your are looking for an uncommon Spanish surname, other than your boyfiiend's which I think tops the list, then there's Pimienta, which sounds kind of funny, but it's not very common. There were some in Cuba who carried it, including my grandmother. It came from Spain, but it was also listed there as a jewish surname. Even today, some Jews from Morocco, and other countries in the area, carry that name, however in Latin America, it is a "Christian" name, for the most part. I am sure there are many family names which are more common in the DR than in other countries, but I am not very familiar with those. I know that Beltre is very common among Dominicans, however, it is a French name which either came with the Haitians or was brought over by some French settlers. I hope to have contributed a little to your search. I am sure there are Dominicans or very observing foreing residents of the DR who have compiled a list of names that seem to be more specific to the DR. If they also happen to be unusual, then it will be closer to what you are looking for.
But can you explain more of what a Basque family name is? Does Basque just mean Spanish or from Spain? 