• Reference to a place: My Torre family clan name is “Manila” referring to the birthplace of my 2nd great grandfather. • Reference to a given name: Binu’ derived from Balvino/Leon Guerrero • Reference to surname: Teyu derived from Tello or Robat derived from Roberto or Roberts • Reference to animal: Atu’/Swamp fish refers to Guzman • Reference to quality or characteristic: Yomuk/fat, obese refers to Leon Guerrero or Kabesa/leader refers to Flores • Reference to objects: Galaidi’/Canoe refers to Sablan • Reference to food: Poto/Rice dessert refers to Palomo Ernie Guerrero once told me how his family obtained their clan name. His ancestor was given a present of a pair of shoes by a priest in recognition for his work. This ancestor loved those shoes so much that he was never without them. He even wore them to feed the pigs! The name brand of the shoes was Charriol. His family name, “Charot” was a Chamorro derivative of the brand name! While many clan names have survived, the meaning behind them is often lost. In 1920, Naval Governor of Guam, Captain William W. Gilmer decreed that all residents of Guam 16 years and older must register for a cédula personal or identification card. This was required to establish the identity of residents for tax payments, land registration, birth registration and court matters. It would also end the centuries old Spanish system of double surnames. The result of this single decree created a major challenge for genealogists. In some cases family members dropped their paternal surname while their siblings dropped their maternal surname. In some cases the compound surname “de Leon Guerrero” became “de Leon” or just “Guerrero.” One of my relatives carries the maiden name “Fejerang.” Her grandfather told her that his surname was really “de Guzman” but that he had to change it to get work. I assume this is a reference to this decree – that in order to get work you had to have only one name. This little bit of information gave me another avenue for to research a line that had been stalled because I couldn’t find the previous generation. Another issue in researching surnames is spelling and placement. In my efforts to research my paternal line, I have found my grandfather’s name listed in official documents as “Ignacio F. Leon Guerino,” “Ignacio Fejarang Leon Guerrero,” and “Ignacio Fejeran Leon Guerrero.” My great-grandfather’s name listed as “Justo de Leon Guerrero Gregorio,” “Justo Gregorio de Leon Guerrero” and simply “Justo de Leon Guerrero.” It is obvious from this that it was my grandparent’s generation
Marianas History Conference 2012 ・ 17