Understanding Documents from Mexico—Part 1

Naming Conventions, Birth Certificates, and Immunization Records

Sonja Williams, Migrant Education Program, NCDPI

Understanding Hispanic Naming Conventions

Nombres=First names Example: Juan Carlos Martínez Gómez

Segundo nombres=Middle names Example: Juan Carlos Martínez Gómez

Apellidos=Last Names or surnames Example: Juan Carlos Martínez Gómez

Points to consider:

Common first names are sometimes abbreviated. María is sometimes abbreviated as “Ma.” José is sometimes
abbreviated as “J.” Some names are composite names, such as Mariajose, which is a girl’s name. These names usually
occur when children are named for saints.

Many children don’t have middle names; the first surname should NOT be turned into a middle name.

Most Hispanic students will have two surnames. The first surname is the surname of the child’s father. The second
surname is the surname of the child’s mother. In some cases, there may only be one surname.

In general, on birth certificates from Latin America, the surnames will NOT be hyphenated. They may be hyphenated if
the child was born in the US. Don’t change the hyphenation that occurs on the birth certificate.

In many indigenous communities, each of the child’s names (first, middle, and surnames) can sound like a first name;
e.g., José Sebastián Juan Domingo. This can be very confusing, so it is important to get the names straight when talking
to the parents/guardians.

If you see the words “finada” or “finado” for parents, that means that the parent is deceased.

Common Errors:

In the example above, entering the child’s name as Juan Carlos Gómez would be incorrect.

Entering the child’s full name as Juan Martínez would be incomplete.

Entering the child’s full name as Juan Martínez-Gómez would also be incorrect.

Martínez should never be listed as the middle name.

Quiz!

María Luisa Tomás Sánchez and Juan Francisco García Monrroy have a child whose name on her birth certificate is listed
as Ma. Guadalupe.

1. What is the child’s first name?

2. What would be the child’s full name?

María Guadalupe García Tomás

María
Tip Sheet for Mexican Birth Certificate

The REGISTRO CIVIL is like the Recorder of Deeds in the US.

Civil documents of various kinds come out of this office.

The information below it is the preamble, presenting it as an

official document.

ACTA DE NACIMIENTO can be translated as birth certificate.

The section below that gives information about the location
of the office, date of registration, etc.

Below that, the DATOS DEL REGISTRADO, are the facts

about the registered child.

CRIP is a national registration number given to each child.

NOMBRE is the name of the child, usually in order: Paternal

Surname, Maternal Surname, First Name, Middle Name.

FECHA DE NACIMIENTO=Birth date (see months page)

LUGAR DE NACIMIENTO=Place of Birth, usually City,

Municipality (similar to county), State, Country

REGISTRADO: Was this a live birth? VIVO=live

COMPARECIO: Who presented the baby for registration?

DATOS DE LOS PADRES: Information about the parents,

beginning with the father’s surnames, first and middle
name, then nationality and age. The mother’s information
follows.

PERSONA DISTINTA DE LOS PADRES QUE PRESENTA AL

REGISTRADO: If a person not the father or mother came to
register the child, their information is here. The information
is similar to that of the parents, but an additional field is
PARENTESCO, or relationship.

The final section gives information about the date and location where the certification of birth was issued, that it was issued in
compliance with statute or regulation, and the signature of the government official who certified it. This section may also contain a
seal.

The next page presents a Birth Certificate Extract Translation, which can be used to keep with the copy that you keep on file.

Months in Spanish (note that names of months are not capitalized.)

enero January mayo May septiembre September

febrero February junio June octubre October
marzo March julio July noviembre November
abril April agosto August diciembre December
 ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF BIRTH CERTIFICATE

PLACE AND DATE OF REGISTRY: ________________________________

Book, Volume, and Number: ________________________________

NAME OF REGISTERED CHILD ________________________________

DATE OF BIRTH: ________________________________

PLACE OF BIRTH: ________________________________

Information about the Parents:

Father of Child: ________________________________

Age of Father: ________________________________

Nationality of Father: ________________________________

Mother of Child: ________________________________

Age of Mother: ________________________________

Nationality of Mother: ________________________________

Date and place of issuance:

Name of Register of Deeds or other official:_______________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

(Optional: This section is used if you are going to submit this as a certified translation.)

I, ________________________________, ATTEST TO MY COMPETENCY TO TRANSLATE FROM SPANISH TO

ENGLISH, AND I CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A CORRECT ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF ALL PERTINENT INFORMATION
FROM THE SPANISH ORIGINAL.
______________________________________ ________________
Signature: Date
Tip Sheet for Mexican Certificate of Vaccination