Talk:Pimentel (surname)

Origins of the surname versus prevalence

"You are misreading the article. Nowhere does it state the surname originated in Brazil. It says the surname derived from a Portuguese word. I'm sure it is a surname in Brazil, maybe common." -Cotton2

This is, indeed, a surname that is common in Brazil. It can be found throughout the Americas and the world. All we could ultimately prove is that the surname is of European origin, first recorded in what is today modern Spain/Portugal (more or less "Iberia" with the exception of Andorra, etc.)

This is why it is not strange to list the surname as being of Portuguese or Spanish origin, but it is quite strange to point out only one of the many countries where this surname has spread to (Brazil). This edit was only made recently and does not provide sources either.

It is also important to revert the removal of the Sehphardi Jewish aspect of this surname. I only added references that support this association, but would be happy to do more research. Mglxyz (talk) 01:04, 29 October 2016 (UTC)

References

There is no more reason to add Brazil as there is Spain or Portugal. Some editor thinks these countries have a higher than average occurrence of the surname, like Smith in the US or Patel in India. An additional paragraph on the origins of the surname, with sources, would be welcome. Most of these types of articles are just lists of people. Please don't take this personally, lot's of things added to WP incorrectly in the past, and will be in the future. There's a 12,000 article backlog to be reviewed at the moment. When I review a new addition, I try to get it right, and it helps you in the long run to be a good contributor. What we are all striving for. Cotton2 (talk) 01:29, 29 October 2016 (UTC)

Again, you appear to be reading origin in Spain Portugal into the article. This is what the article actually says...Pimentel is a Portuguese, Spanish, Brazilian,[1] and Sephardi Jewish[2][3] surname derived from the Portuguese word pimenta (pepper).. I have put Brazil back in the article, with sources. You also seem to have some WP:OWNERSHIP issues with the article. Please observe a WP:NPOV. Cotton2 (talk) 02:02, 29 October 2016 (UTC)

I think you still misunderstand what I meant. There is a categorical distinction between the countries/region of origin and the countries where the name is common. Smith is an American name in the sense that it is common in the United States (as it likely is in Australia, Canada, and the whole Commonwealth, etc). Yet, Smith's wiki page itself distinguishes that "Smith is a surname[3] originating in England. It is the most prevalent surname in the United Kingdom,[1] Australia and the United States." It does not refer to Smith as an American name in the manner that you refer to Pimentel as a Brazilian name. I think it made more sense to exclude Brazil, because why include Brazil but not Portugal (as a country, not a descriptor), Dominican Republic, Philippines, Angola?

Following this logic, Pimentel is, indeed, a Filipino surname, as it is neither uncommon nor rare there. See Aquilino Pimentel III and Aquilino Pimentel Jr.

I only agree with the article as currently written because I cannot prove or reference that Pimentel originated in Spain or Portugal or any particular location. That would solve this issue because Brazil could only be listed as a country where the surname is "prevalent"/"common", mirroring the logic of the Smith article, rather than being used as an adjective (Brazilian) suggesting that Pimentel originated in Brazil, which it did not.

Mglxyz (talk) 02:25, 29 October 2016 (UTC)

References