Strange names???

Question

In my job I get to see a lot of last names. Some of them are quite common. Others not so much. Some have been "Americanized" by dropping letters or endings or changing the spelling. I know that when my ancestors came over to the U.S., they dropped a vowel in my last name, which actually made the name harder to spell. It is Wencl, pronounced like pencil, and was originally spelled Wencel.

Anywho, I was wondering, are there "Spanish-ized" names? When immigrants move from a non-Spanish-speaking country to, say, Spain, do their names get chopped up and phoneticized like sometimes happens (or happened) in the U.S.? If anyone has some examples, it would be interesting to know.

Answer 1

But for many English names there are Spanish equivalent.

That's because they are not exactly "English names", but names that existed before English or Spanish existed:

John / Juan - Hebrew origin

Joseph / José - Hebrew origin

Peter / Pedro - Hebrew origin

Anthony / Antonio - Roman name (Spanish is modern Latin, the language of Rome). The Romans took it from the Etruscans.

Mark / Marco - Roman name (from the god Mars)

Mary / María - Hebrew origin

Paul / Pablo - Hebrew origin

Henry / Enrique - German origin, but bear in mind that Spain was at some point inhabited by Germanic tribes

Hugh / Hugo - Germanic/Frankish origin

Here Is Enougher Eg: Mike Thaat Is English Or Irish I Dont Know

Neither! It is Hebrew, and England adopted it as Michael, whereas Spain adopted it as Miguel -something like "Micro" can only be conceived by people who know nothing about the origins of the names. The original name was Mikhael, and it sounds like MIK-AH-AL, which is closer in a way to the Spanish pronunciation in terms of vowels (the K sound is closer in English, though).

Summing up: There are many very common Hebrew names which have their own modern versions in many western countries, along with quite a few Latin and Greek ones, and a few very popular Germanic and Arabic ones. Besides those and a minor number of exceptions, all other names are unique to some countries, and it is no wonder that people try to modify them to fit their language sound system and spelling.

Oh Right That Makes More Sence , - ezzyie, Aug 27, 2010

Answer 2

I don't know about the Spanish-ized names. Only people who got settled in Spanish speaking country only can answer it.

But for many English names there are Spanish equivalent.

Eg: John / Juan

Joseph / José

Peter / Pedro

Anthony / Antonio

Mark / Marco

Mary / María

Paul / Pablo

Henry / Enrique

Hugh / Hugo

Answer 3

Hmm.. Im Not Quite Sure All I Know Is When U Move To Enougher Country Or Going On Hoilday To Enough Country Your Name May Stay The Same Or It Might Be Different It Depends Where Your Name Comes From For Example - My Name Is Eirin Its Irish But In England People Would Say It As Erin Because Its The Same Name Just Spelt Different And Only A lil It Sound Diffent.

Sorry That I Could Not Help Much ,, I Thought Too Give The Information That I Know.

Here Is Enougher Eg: Mike Thaat Is English Or Irish I Dont Know But If U Go To Spain For Example The Name Would Be Micro , Its The Same Name Though Just Spelt Different And Said A Lil Different.

Ezzyie