What about you?

What about you?

Postby Pedro Gallego » Sat Dec 08, 2018 1:40 pm

In malaga where I am, due to its diversity, there is no common name. My names are not very common but it is true that there is a town in Malaga called Benahavis where practically half of the population is called Guerrero. My grandparents are from that town so someone who knows that fact (practically half of the population is called Guerrero in Benahavis) may think that I have some relationship with that town. The origin of my name is due to the Castilian warriors who reconquered Benahavis for the crown of Castile and León although many of the Muslims who converted to Catholicism also received this surname.
As my name Guerrero, there are also many names that refer to the profession they had but not exactly as it happens in the Anglo-Saxon countries. In my country it is more related to the saints. Each saint is associated with a profession. So Nicolás is related to pharmacists, Eloy to veterinarians, etc.
I don´t believe that foreign surnames are popular in my country although these have been increasing but in the Canary Islands it´s frequent to find foreign names like Brian, Mark, etc.
In my country when you meet someone you call him by his name and only in very formal situations the person is named by his/her surname. What is most often used is the nickname. Using the surname without the title that is usually done only in very formal situations too.
In spanish there are common pet names like in English, for example, "hermano" referred to a good friend or "amor" referred to your partner, etc.
Pedro Gallego
 

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