What was Lucy Ricardo's maiden name?

Lucy Ricardo’s maiden name was McGillicuddy.

The character’s full name is commonly given as Lucille Esmeralda “Lucy” McGillicuddy Ricardo. She married Ricky Ricardo, the Cuban-American bandleader played by Desi Arnaz, but the McGillicuddy name remained part of her established backstory throughout I Love Lucy.

The series provided only scattered details about Lucy’s early life. She was said to have been born in Jamestown, New York, or West Jamestown in later references, and her mother was Mrs. McGillicuddy. Lucy’s family history was used mainly for comic situations, including her mother’s visits and her tendency to mispronounce or forget Ricky’s name.

McGillicuddy is sometimes confused with Lucille Ball’s real surname, since Ball played Lucy and many details of the character echoed her life. The fictional Lucy, however, is not simply Ball under another name: she is a distinct character with her own marriage, family history, and exaggerated schemes to enter show business. The maiden name appears in episodes including “The Marriage License” and “The Passports.”