American Samoa Naming Customs: Difference between revisions

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'''Understanding customs used in surnames and given names can help you identify your ancestors in records.  Learn to recognize name variations and see clues in names.'''
'''Understanding customs used in surnames and given names can help you identify your ancestors in records.  Learn to recognize name variations and see clues in names.'''

Revision as of 09:46, 22 October 2024

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Understanding customs used in surnames and given names can help you identify your ancestors in records. Learn to recognize name variations and see clues in names.

Online Resources[edit | edit source]

Given Names[edit | edit source]

The meaning of a given name is important when naming a child in the Samoan community:

personal traits: Malosi (strong), Umi (tall), Vave (fast), Faiaivale (foolish)
religious: Toefuata’igaoletalalelei (restoration of the Gospel)
events: Dodiana (this name was created to commemorate Dodi Fayed and Princess Diana's death)
objects: Tala (dollar)
animals: Maile (dog)
descriptive: Leilani (heavenly flower)
traditional: Pua’a’elo (this was the name of a Samoan high chief)[1]

Naming Customs[edit | edit source]

Samoan names are often part of the Matai title system. Here are several resources:


References[edit | edit source]

  1. "Samoan culture", in Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samoan_culture#Names, accessed 8 March 2021.