Spanish Surnames

My husband's father was born in Puerto Rico. I had thought that would make things easier, tracing his genealogy. It has helped, and it has made it more difficult. In the case of my father-in-law (who died long before I married his son), I discovered his mother's name only after I requested his Social Security application. Even then, John only listed his mother's 'first' surname.

His mother as an example: Cesarea Aviles. Actually her full name was Cesarea Aviles y Rodriguez. This means her father's last name was Aviles and her mother's last name was Rodriguez. When I say last name, I mean their father's last name. IF Cesarea's parents didn't marry, it's entirely possible that Cesarea would have gone by the surname Rodriguez ONLY. In Cesarea's case, her parents never married, but her father Ezequiel Aviles y Aviles 'claimed' her as his child. Sometimes you have to look for Cesarea Aviles, sometimes Cesarea Rodriguez.

That's IF the fathers claim the children!

Cesarea's mother was Juana Rodriguez. Hold on! Wait! Her father's name was Hemeterio Reyes y Barrio. Her mother was Florentina Rodriguez y Rodriguez.
Doesn't that mean Juana should list her nae as Juana Reyes y Rodriguez? What if someone 'mis-listened' and recorded her name on a document (census, birth certificate, etc.) as Juana Rodriguez y Reyes. I'd be going on a wild good chase looking for Juana.

Juana's brother Telesforo and his wife Monserrate really did a number on the censuses in 1910 and 1920.

In 1910, Puerto Rico, Yeguada District 130, p 17/27
Reyes y Rodriguez, Telesforo, 50 yrs, "married" 20 yrs
Soriano y Melendez de Reyes, Monserrate, 48 yrs, "married" 20 yrs
Reyes y Soriano, Maria, 19 yrs
Reyes y Soriano, Antonio, 17 yrs
Reyes y Soriano, Jose, 14 yrs

In 1920, Puerto Rico, Yeguada, District 130, p 1/27
Rodriguez, Telesforo, 62 yrs, "married" 30 yrs
Melendez de Rodriguez, Monserrate, 54 yrs "married 30 yrs
Rodriguez y Melendez, Antonio, 32 yrs
Rodriguez y Melendez, Jose, 24 yrs

Admittedly, some of the ages don't match up. Telesforo's age differs by 2 years, Monserrate's by 4 years. Antonio has magically aged 5 years (maybe it was a transcription erro?). Curious that by 1920, *everyone* in the household has taken on their mother's surnames, which takes the level of "finding" these ancestors to a whole new level.

No wonder genealogy is such a puzzle!