The tradition of surnames varies from culture. Some people have, at some point in their family history, have adopted a surname, changed the spelling of their name or been assigned a surname by someone.
Some people have surnames that have no connection to their family's heritage.
A person with a surname linked to a culture that is not their own turned to the "Am I The A**hole" (AITA) subReddit for feedback after a friend objected to the use of their name.
You read that right.
Someone took issue with a person using their own last name.
Alternateblue asked:
"AITA for getting a tattoo of my last name?"
The original poster (OP) explained:
"My siblings and I are planning on getting matching tattoos that represent our last name. For the sake of the story we’ll say it’s Manzana which means apple in Spanish."
"My siblings and I would all get a tattoo of an apple. We are not Hispanic or Latino, our last name just happens to be a Spanish word."
"I was talking about getting this tattoo to a friend of mine and she said that it would be offensive because I’m not Hispanic."
"She said it would also give the impression that I’m Hispanic to other people when I’m not. But that’s literally what my last name means."
"Would I be the a**hole if I got this tattoo?"
"She said people would think I’m Hispanic because if I explained the tattoo as 'it’s my last name, it means apple in Spanish' then they’d take it to mean that I was in some way Hispanic."
Redditors weighed in using the AITA voting acronyms:
- NTA - Not The A**hole
- YTA - You're The A**hole
- NAH - No A**holes Here
- ESH - Everyone Sucks Here
- INFO - more information needed
Redditors decided the OP was
"There's activism and there's whatever people are on about these days to make you seem other and enemy. And then the white knights are all there to tell you that even existing as you are (born with your last name) is wrong and you should feel ashamed for it. That's bullsh*t." ~ realdappermuis
"There's European countries that speak Spanish, not just Latin America. Your friend sounds ignorant. NTA." ~ kavalejava
"Imagine how the friend will react when she learns that Spanish comes from Spain, which is in Europe, and most Spaniards are white. Btw, there's only one European country that has Spanish as its official language. Signed, a Spaniard in Spain who's never set foot in any part of the American continent." ~ SeptemberSoup
"The face someone made when I pointed out that Spanish is from Europe... I could see the wheels turning and swear I could practically hear something kachunk into place.How do people get through life being so incurious and ignorant?" ~ rora_borealis
"nta, I'm Scottish but my name is Japanese, im not just gonna stop using my given name because im not japanese. your friend has such a weird logic." ~ morguemoss
" NTA, that's a perfectly fine reason for you to get that tattoo. Friend is overreacting; I really don't think any Hispanic and/or Latino person would care?" ~ ultmjwatson
"NTA, your friend is creating problems where there are none. I’m Hispanic and I wouldn’t care about the tattoo, why would we be offended?" ~ constantaita
"NTA. That person is virtue signaling. It's literally your name and you're getting a representation of your name. You're not even getting a "Spanish" word." ~ keesouth
"NTA tattoos are meaningful and symbolic to you; they’re not necessarily for other people, though oftentimes they comment on them. And considering it’s your actual name it does have historical relevance to you somewhere down the line, plus you’re not getting it in poor spirits. Your friend will get over it." ~ Jolly-Advantage5338
"NTA, if your last name is a Spanish word, then getting a tattoo of your last name would in no way be offensive (and frankly, it sounds as though your friend kind of even thinks that your last name is offensive because you are not Hispanic and your last name is, which is really warped in my opinion)." ~ GoetheundLotte
"NTA but your friend is.My last name is Portuguese but I’m not Portuguese bc that’s how colonialism works. Same for every person who has a Spanish last name who is not from Spain." ~ Big-Elephant6141
"NTA - Lol, it’s still your last name isn’t it? It’s funny that you found a symbol for it and want to use it, get them tattoos. Your friend seems to be the one that is offended for other groups of people, while the 'offended' group couldn’t care less."
"So unless it’s something offensive in Spanish, you’re all good. And even if it was offensive in Spanish, they’d only look at you with pity because you tattooed something offensive on your body." ~ ThatEditorDude
"My original (pre-marital) last name is a mythical animal (think Phoenix or Unicorn). The creature, not the letters, was my first tattoo. When people see it, they often say 'cool, what's that?' I respond 'a Phoenix, its my family name' and in the 29 years I have had the tattoo, it's never mislead or offended anyone."
"Not even the nerdiest of into-fantasy-nerds."
"If it's your name, it's your name. NTA."
"Also, just FYI, but Spaniards, from Spain, are generally considered European, not Hispanic, and a significant percentage of them have, get this, Spanish last names. Wild, right? Your friend is a doofus. NTA." ~ throwaway1975764
"NTA. How would someone seeing an apple tattoo think that means you’re Hispanic? I’m LOLing over this! Even if you spelled out a Hispanic last name as the tattoo, totally fine, it’s literally your name!" ~ DoTheRoarararar
"Is the friend Hispanic? If not they they have no idea what they’re talking about, and if they are, probably jealous they don’t have a cool last name that translates to something tangible. Get your tattoo and tell them to mind their own body business!" ~ no_star_sneetch
"NTA - if the tattoo has a personal meaning to you, and is representative of who you are, thats fine. And if anyone is offended by your ink, and there will ALWAYS be someone who feels it’s their place ro tell you they are offended, just send them packing with an offensive word or two." ~ Old_Fart_on_pogie
"NTA. People like your friend are the problem, to be honest. You're not doing it to be offensive. Anyone just casually looking at your tattoo probably won't understand the meaning either; that meaning will be personal to you. If they did understand, they'd probably think you just like the culture. If they ask, you can explain and no one (who isn't the AH) will think anything is wrong with it." ~ Saknika
"NTA. I'm considering getting a daisy tattoo soon. A daisy like the flower, but I'd be getting it to memorialize my dog, Daisy. Am I being offensive to florists? Am I being offensive to dog lovers? Am I offending the spirit of my passed pupper?"
"No to all of that because it's just symbolism AND my body to do with what I want. You are picking a symbol to represent your family's last name. Screw your 'friend'." ~ afray_knits
"I don't even know how or why this would be offensive, ffs. Your friend should learn to focus her self-righteous judgment on things that actually hurt people, rather than inconsequential nothings." ~ PettyTrashPanda
"I feel like she may think it’s wrong for op to have a Spanish last name at all, and the fact she’s embracing it makes her extra problematic."
"It seems like she’s not considering Spanish is a European language at all and just seeing it as a language from Mexico/South America, so to her it’s wrong for a white American of European descent to have a Spanish name, and she would feel differently if op's last name was German or something."
"That’s the only way it makes sense to me at least because it’s very normal for white Americans to have last names from random European languages/countries that their family has no connection to anymore." ~ emilystarlight
"NTA, so many words and names have Latin roots. There are lots of languages with Latin roots, and since you aren't Hispanic, it's likely that your name has a translatable similar meaning in other languages. The word via means road in Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian for example."
"In other words, you are fine, and your friend is weird." ~ Performer-Complete
"NTA. I have a Hispanic last name that I married into. Sometimes people think I am Hispanic; I simply correct them, and everyone moves on. No harm, no foul. Get the tattoo." ~ Kangaro1043
"NTA, what kind of backward logic is getting a tattoo representing your own last name offensive?"
"Are you having the 'apple' tattooed to be dressed up like a stereotype? Mustached wearing a sombrero, serape and holding maracas?" ~ RefrigeratorRare4463
"NTA. An apple has a name in every language. If you’re getting an actual apple tattooed, it wouldn’t be offensive to anyone. Also, let people take offense; it’s your last name, and you shouldn’t tippy-toe around your last name. Also, find better friends who aren’t easily offended by bullsh*t like this." ~ FinalBlackberry
"There's absolutely nothing wrong with your family name, but there are lots of reasons why a person might get a tattoo of an apple (or whatever). If someone does ask, you can explain the history behind it. If they say 'You don't look Hispanic' you could reply 'So?'." ~ Avehdreader
OP's last name is their last name. What's the issue here?
