Mayan surnames reflect Maya people's ancient patronymic naming traditions, and are found among the Mayans, a 6-million-strong indigenous people that live in Guatemala, the south of Mexico, Belize, Honduras and the westernmost regions of El Salvador; these surnames can also be found among the Mexican, Guatemalan, Belizean and Honduran diaspora in the United States. While the Mayan languages descend from Proto-Maya[1] and form part the same family, geographically closer languages tend to be more mutually intelligible than those far away from each other; however, they share a common identity and traditions. Mayan surnames were significantly influenced by Spanish colonization, and often include surnames like Xiu, Cocom, Canek, and Tun, some of which were derived from powerful "houses" or dynasties that rules the different Maya city-states. While the ancient Maya used a system of given names and patronyms, the Spanish conquest led to the adoption of Spanish naming conventions and the creation of hybrid names. Today, many Mayans use surnames have meanings rooted in the Maya language, referring to animals like jaguars, elements like stones, or concepts like stars.
History of Mayan surnamesHistory of Mayan surnames
Mayan surnames have a complex history, evolving from a system of patronyms and personal names to the widespread adoption of Spanish surnames after colonization. The Xiu and Cocom houses are examples of pre-Hispanic Maya names and patronyms that have meanings associated with nature or constellations and can be linked to familial ancestry. Although indigenous names are still widely used, many Mayans were forced or voluntarily adopted Spanish surnames during Spanish control. The ancient Mayans are considered the most advanced civilization in the Americas, being in some aspects more advanced than the European of the time, and were the one of the few indigenous people in the continent that developed a writing system of their own, which was deciphered between the 1950s and 1960s by the soviet linguist Yuri Knorozov and whose earliest inscriptions date back to 200–300 BCE.[1] Due in large part to its remarkable beauty and the fact that it has been partially deciphered, the Maya script is now widely regarded as the most advanced Mesoamerican writing system.
Mayan surnames naming conventionsMayan surnames naming conventions
Ancient Mayans had a number of names, usually three or 4:[2]
- The "paal kaba" or given name
- The surname of the father
- The "naal kaba", which was made of the combined surnames of both parents, and often
- The "coco kaba" or nickname
Many modern Mayan last names are Spanish or a combination of Mayan and Spanish origins, with some ancient Mayan surnames still being used, especially in the Yucatán Peninsula. Historically, Mayan surname conventions involved linking to animals, nature, constellations or even nicknames.[2] Mayan aristocrats in particular, had structured names made up of as a given name followed by a toponym or patronym, for example Kʼinich Janaabʼ Pakal, with Kʼinich meaning "radiant" (often used as a noble prefix) and Janaabʼ Pakal means "shield" or "sun-shield."
However, during colonialism, these were frequently replaced or combined with Spanish surnames, as a result of being baptized by Spanish priests
Types of Mayan surnamesTypes of Mayan surnames
Mayan surnames of occupational originMayan surnames of occupational origin
Mayan surnames of descriptive originMayan surnames of descriptive origin
Mayan surnames of nature-based originMayan surnames of nature-based origin
Mayan surnames of aristocratic / clan originMayan surnames of aristocratic / clan origin
A number of letters written to the King of Spain in the 16th and 17th centuries are mentioned by Matthew Restall in his book The Maya Conquistador.[3] At that time, the Spanish royal family received documents signed by noble Maya families:
Most common Mayan surnamesMost common Mayan surnames
Celebrities with Mayan surnamesCelebrities with Mayan surnames
- Hilario Chi Canul - Mexican linguist who worked as a translator and Yucatec Maya language coach in the production of the 2006 movie Apocalypto by Mel Gibson.
- Rigoberta Menchú Tum - K'iche' Guatemalan human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Menchú has dedicated her life to publicizing the rights of Guatemala's Indigenous peoples during and after the Guatemalan Civil War, and to promoting Indigenous rights internationally.
- Francisco Epigmenio Luna Kan - Mexican politician of Yucatec Maya origin who served as the first and only Maya governor elected in Mexico, Governor of Yucatán from 1976 to 1982.
- María Mercedes Coroy - Guatemalan actress of Kaqchikel Maya descent. She is known for her roles in Ixcanul, La Llorona, Bel Canto, Malinche, and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
- Henry Josué Martín Mex - Mexican professional footballer who plays as a forward for Liga MX club América, which he captains
- Humberto Akʼab'al - Kʼicheʼ Maya poet from Guatemala who wrote in his native language and then translated his poetry into Spanish. With the translations of his works into numerous languages and international recognition, Akʼabʼal is considered to be "the most renowned Maya poet".
See alsoSee also
- Spanish surnames
- Hispanic surnames
- Mexican surnames
- Mesoamerican and Andean surnames
- Guatemalan surnames
- Panamanian surnames
- Ecuadorian surnames
- German surnames
- British surnames
- Danish surnames
- Arabic surnames
- Polish surnames
- Afrikaans surnames
- Greek surnames
- Portuguese surnames
- Sephardic Jewish surnames
- Ashkenazi Jewish surnames
- Chinese surnames
- Scottish surnames
- Welsh surnames
- Cornish surnames
- Canadian surnames
- New Zealand surnames
- American surnames
- Irish surnames
- French surnames
- Dutch surnames
Explore more about Mayan surnamesExplore more about Mayan surnames
- Discover the origin of your last name at MyHeritage
- El Salvador - Collection Catalog at MyHeritage
- Guatemala - Collection Catalog at MyHeritage
- Honduras - Collection Catalog at MyHeritage
- Mexico - Collection Catalog at MyHeritage
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Mayan languages spreading across the US. BBC
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Maya Names. Yucatán Today
- ↑ Restall, Matthew (1998). Maya Conquistador. Boston, Massachusetts: Beacon. pp. xvi, 254.
- ↑ Observaciones acerca de los nombres y apellidos de origen maya (SEGUNDA parte). Filosofía Maya