A Family With Any Other Name...
I returned to this list recently while discussing the topic in one of my Chamoru language classes. For many Chamorus in the states or who grow up on Guam without much emphasis on their heritage, they assume that their "family name" is their last name. I have had many troubling conversations with young people who assert that their clan name is "Leon Guerrero" or "Perez" or "Taitano" and don't understand or haven't been informed about how each last name has one or more clan names associated with it.
Chamorro family names are an important way of navigating genealogy. Although Chamorros currently use surnames as their legal names, their “family name” or “clan nickname” can often times be more informative in establishing familial relations. The origin of a family’s nickname can sometimes be up for debate or unknown to the family today. These clan indicators can be derived from the name of an ancestor, an ancestral home, a family trait, a well-known behavior or an embarrassing story.
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Adiluk From Adelup
Agaga’ “the color red”
Alimasak “a type of crab”
Anakko’ “long”
Api From “Rafael”
Åpu “ash”
Aragon From Aragon (Spain)
Åtdot From “Salvador”
Atkadi “mayor or municipal leader or prison warden”
Åtu “river fish”
Bachet “blind”
Basnak “stumble, fall down”
Bådu “hunchbacked”
Bålitres “three times the value”
Bibek “whistle”
Binådu “deer”
Binu From Balvino
Bittot From Victoriano
Bobu “spring (as in water)”
Buchi “swollen neck or mumps”
Bodik “basement or neurological disease
Budoki “mud or clay ball”
Bulaku “boar”
Chå’ka “rat”
Chåda’ “eggs”
Chandiha “watermelon”
Charot “shoes”
Chedo From Pedro
Chetton “stuck”
Chilenko “mixed, hybrid in quality”
Chunge’ “grey-haired”
Dågu “wild yam”
Dångkolo’ “big or large”
Dero From Desidero
Desa From Deza
Donne’ “hot pepper”
Duya “skin eating disease”
Eka From Rebecca
Ela From Manuela
Fadang “Federico palm”
Ga’lågu “dog”
Galabok “anus”
Galaide’ “canoe”
Ganggochi “gunny sack”
Ginya From Juana
Goyo From Gregorio
Gualaffon “full moon”
Gugat “muscles”
Gutus “to snap or break off”
Humatak From Umatac
Kabesa “mayor or head”
Kadada’ “short in length/can also mean short in stature”
Karabao “water buffalo”
Kariso “reeds, tall grass near swamps”
Kasimiro From Casamiro
Kåtson “pants”
Kichu “fish/convict tang”
Kohu “cripple, limping”
Kokora “an irritating person”
Kotla “to apply gold varnish”
Kottis From Cortez
Ingu From Domingo
Lachi “wrong or incorrect”
Lafit From Rafael
Lålo “fly”
Lodo “chubby”
Makaka “itchy”
Mahetok “hard (physical property)”
Mala’et “bitter”
Mames “sweet (taste)”
Manaitai “to pray”
Manila From Manila (PI)
Mafongfong “flat nosed or to be pounded”
Mannok “chicken”
Nandu From Fernando
Ngånga’ “duck”
Påle’ “priest/possibly descended from a priest”
Pinalala “in a hurry”
Pina’lek “headache”
Pistola “pistol, gun”
Potpot “swollen/thick”
Robat From Roberts
Safra From Zafra
Sambaguenu From Zamboanga (PI)
Saro’ From Rosauro
Siboyas “onions”
Sinda From Redocinda
Tatiyas “tortillas”
Te’ From Jose
Teyu From Tello
Tuba “coconut alcohol”
Tuho’ “to drip”
Tugong “charge”
Yommok “obese”
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