Not really the way it works in Spanish-speaking countries, as I understand it.
A person's full legal name includes both the father's last name and the mother's maiden name, but for most purposes only the father's name is used. For example, my brother-in-law's full legal name is Ciro Rios Sepulveda, Rios being the father's name and Sepulveda being the mother's maiden (and married) name. (The women, at least in Chile, don't use the husband's last name after marriage.) In everything except very technical, governmental matters, his name is simply "Ciro Rios."
...
Well, I had the devil of a time locating a former friend of mine whom I knew had moved to Puerto Rico. In a spotty back and forth correspondence, I got a "Forwarding Expired" on a Christmas card.
I finally sent something to his old address in the name by which I knew him, adding "Or Occupant At," which I hoped would be forwarded. (I hand-wrote the address and my return address on the envelope.)
It was, not by the Post Office, but by the people who had bought his U.S. house. He explained that in PR, he had to use his mother's maiden name when he emigrated there. At least that's how he explained it to me. I don't think he was hiding anything.
Terry
