A Barcelona couple has launched a legal challenge against the Civil Registry after officials added an accent to their newborn son’s Catalan surname, ‘Garcia’, effectively Castilianising it. This incident, which occurred in April 2025, has escalated into a judicial battle over linguistic rights.

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Civil Registry Adds Accent to Catalan Surname

The parents initially registered their son’s first surname as ‘Garcia’, using the Catalan spelling without an accent. This form matched the father’s official documents, including his DNI, passport, and birth and marriage certificates. They anticipated no issues with their son inheriting the surname without modification.

However, the family received the literal birth registration certificate by email one month later. This document showed the child’s first surname with an accent, appearing as ‘García’. The parents promptly filed a complaint with the Civil Registry, requesting correction of the unjustified error.

Administrative Appeals Denied

Plataforma per la Llengua, an organisation dedicated to promoting the Catalan language, advises the affected family. The organisation reported the Civil Registry’s initial administrative resolution. It stated: “The registry body not only failed to acknowledge any error. It also alleged, without rhyme or reason, that the use of the accent followed the grammatical rules of the Royal Spanish Academy.”

Plataforma per la Llengua highlighted that this resolution ignored the family’s request regarding filiation criteria. It also demonstrated “manifest linguistic supremacism,” prioritising the rules of a language not corresponding to the surname’s origin. The organisation described this as an arbitrary decision.

Wider Concerns Over Linguistic Rights

The family then escalated the case to the Directorate General of Public Security and Public Faith of the Spanish Ministry of Justice. This appeal also faced denial, with the same justification provided by the Civil Registry. With administrative avenues exhausted, the parents decided to pursue judicial action. They aim to rectify the registry and remove the incorrect accent from their son’s surname.

Plataforma per la Llengua views this case as an example of “underlying institutional Catalanophobia.” The refusal to respect the genuine form of the surname, they argue, constitutes indirect pressure to adapt to an alien linguistic norm. This situation affects Barcelona residents and others across Catalonia, impacting their cultural and linguistic identity.

Judicial Battle for Catalan Identity

The organisation warns that such a violation, even for a common surname like ‘Garcia’, is not an isolated incident. Since 2021, citizens have reported approximately 20 similar cases in Catalonia and the Valencian Country. These individuals encountered comparable situations with their names or surnames.

Overall, Plataforma per la Llengua has received 47 complaints concerning Civil Registries in Catalonia. Nineteen of these complaints specifically relate to violations of linguistic rights in the Catalanisation of names and surnames. The ongoing judicial process will now determine the outcome for the Barcelona family, potentially setting a significant precedent for linguistic rights in official registrations.

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Originally published by Tot Barcelona. Read original article.