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CHamoru Clan Names: Derived from Place Names
- Details
- Written by: Bernard Punzalan
The reference of a person or family in a conversation based on a place name is one of several ways place names can become a family clan name. Below are some clan names that are derived from place names or place name reference.
Adiluk
Afame
Amerikåno
Aniguak
Assan
Chapones
Chino
Dadi
Englis
Hågat
Hagåtña
Humåtak/Måtak
Lamon
Manila
Tagålo
Tepungan
On August 28, 2013, I wrote a blogged one of my observations, titled “Genealogy and Geographical Nodes 1890-1906. I called it “Geographical Nodes,” because I had no other better way of describing it at the time as it relates to genealogy. Every family clan name has a history. These just happen to come from place names to distinguish between one person/family from another during a conversation of and in a specific context.
There are literally thousands of place names throughout each island in the Marianas. Can you name other CHamoru clan names that are derived from place names?
Bibliography:
Punzalan, Bernard. 2013. Genealogy and Geographical Nodes 1890-1906. Retrieved from: https://chamorroroots.com/v7/home/topics/taotao-tano/research-tips/genealogy-and-geographical-nodes-1890-1906
CHamoru Clan Name: Batitang
- Details
- Written by: Bernard Punzalan
This is a 1987 article from the Guam Pacific Daily News featuring the Familian Batitang, from Sa’ipan, fishing for atulai. Gathering together to fish is their family tradition. I am curious from the family if they know the history, origins and meaning of Batitang.
What’s your family clan and tradition?
We will be conducting another CHamoru Genealogy Workshop Symposium TBD September 2024 on Guam with a theme/focus on CHamoru family clan names. Start planning and stay tuned for more information as we progress with the planning and organizing of this grand event.
CHamoru Family Clan Name: Matias
- Details
- Written by: Bernard Punzalan
Not all families have CHamoru family clan names per se. However, CHamoru families can still be identified by some of the top elders in their family lineage. When I asked my family what our Leon Guerrero family clan name is, the response I received was, “We don’t really have one, but we are known as familian Matias.” Matias Espinosa de Leon Guerrero, was my great-great-grandfather (1827-1906) and that was how some people were able to identify our specific Leon Guerrero lineage. From a court record, I learned that my great-great grandfather Matias was a shoemaker.
The two elder ladies sitting in the photo are sisters, granddaughters of Matias, and last of the surviving siblings in the 1980s: left: Nan Ocha (my grandmother, Rosa Salas Leon Guerrero Cruz) and right: Nan Lia (Maria Salas Leon Guerrero Techaira).
*Heads-up: The 2024 CHamoru Genealogy Workshop Symposium is being planned for Guam sometime in September. Stay tuned!
CHamoru Population Through 2020 (Updated)
- Details
- Written by: Bernard Punzalan
A glimpse of the CHamoru[1] population through 2020
Footnote
[1] CHamoru population includes those with mixed races.
CHamoru Clans Series 2008 / 2024 CHamoru Genealogy Workshop
- Details
- Written by: Bernard Punzalan
In 2008, Lacy Martinez, a reporter for the Guam Pacific Daily News, ran a weekly series on the topic “Chamorro Clans.” At the time the CHamoru Roots Genealogy Project was only a few years old and Lacy reached out to me about the project.
Family clan names are a vital CHamoru cultural practice towards pinpointing and identifying specific family relationships and even individuals within clans.
SAVE THE DATE. We are planning for a 2024 CHamoru Genealogy Workshop Symposium that will highlight this cultural practice along with other presentations, displays, and CHamoru genealogy database navigation tips. It will be a two-day, possibly three-days if necessary, TENTATIVELY, September 20-21, 2024, and hopefully at the Guam Community College multipurpose auditorium. Much of this will depend on the continued collaboration and co-sponsorship with the Kumisión i Fino’ CHamoru yan i Fina’nå’guen i Historia yan i Lina’la’ i Taotao Tåno’ (Commission on CHamoru Language and the Teaching of the History and Culture of the Indigenous People of Guam).
There is still a lot of planning, coordination and organizing going on but I just wanted to give everyone some planning information, to at least set aside the time and save money for travel if you are coming from off-island. So please stay tuned for developments. Also, please let me know if you are interested in rolling up your sleeves to help out with this historical event.
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