What''s in a Name? Revisiting the Census'' Spanish Surname List.

In this paper I analyze the reliability of the Spanish surname as an identifier of Hispanic populations for survey research purposes. I argue that reliance on the U.S. Census' Spanish surname list for the identification of Hispanics results in rates of Type 1 and Type II error that can compromise the integrity of the inferences we draw from data on Hispanic populations. In particular, high rates of Type I error in sampling contributes to a lack of understanding of an important but routinely ignored group of Hispanicsâ??those who identify as Hispanic but lack a Spanish surname. In order to test the validity of the Census' Spanish surname list and build a basis for my argument for more critical analyses of "marginal Hispanics" I test the surname filter on two survey data sets developed in California in 2008. I maintain that while the surname list continues to be a valuable resource to survey researchers, we should keep an eye toward the ever-dynamic, heterogeneous nature of the Hispanic population in the U.S. and proceed with a higher degree of caution when utilizing this tool. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]