When does the Forename End and the Surname Begin? Saints’ Names as Compound Forenames in Spanish

Abstract

While cataloging colonial-era Spanish-language materials, the investigator encountered personal names in which the forename, given in honor of a saint, includes a phrase-like qualifier such as a place name or attribute. In these situations, catalogers occasionally mistake the qualifier as part of the surname. Cataloging rules provide guidance in establishing compound surnames but not so much with forenames. For this article, 28 such forenames were searched in the Library of Congress Name Authority File to identify problematic authorized access points. Familiarity with naming customs in Spanish-speaking societies and with saints’ names is needed when creating or revising these access points.