My first ancestor to stop using Ruiz de Esparza was known as Rafaela
Esparza at the time of her 2nd marriage (January 30, 1782). Her father,
Felipe-Toribio Ruiz-de-Esparza did use the compound surname. Maybe
they were preparing for Mexico's Independence when it would not have
been a good time to be connected to the Mother country, Spain. My Gomez
ancestor, Vicente Ferrer Gomez (his brother Agustin continued using the
compound name) had also dropped the Gomez de Mendoza when he married in
April 21, 1766 in the Jalostotitlan/San Juan de los Lagos area of
Jalisco.
What types of surname changes of others experienced?
Irma Gomez Gtz
N. California
Discontinuance of compoun surnames in Los Altos: Ruiz de Esparza
Hi Irma, this has always been an interesting topic to discuss, I think that many people have reasons and times to shorten their names, I have a sister from church and the FHC her name is still Ruiz de Esparza, she is from Cosío, Ags. We just call her sister Esparza, its customs like this that might a reason, I wasnt aware you were related to Vic. Ferr I have him in my database along with all the G. de Mendoza. Anyway I think it really just depends on the person, a general from Santa María de los Lagos, was named Moreno de Ortega, they later changed the city's name ti Lagos de Moreno in his honor. He used his European-style surname till the end of the war of independece when he died. My grandfather told me once, I need to ask him again! Ill just paraprase what I remember, that there was a time the Mexican government tried to get rid of all compound last names, but were not successful, it was an effort to create equality, since the compound showed lineage and blood, but it failed, in the government were the criollos in charge. I think the independece didnt really change things, yes, it kicked the peninsulars but put the criollos in power where it is today.
-Daniel Méndez del Camino
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