There is no real pattern. What people did one generation didn't necessarily happen the next. If it happened for a couple of generations that will make your research easier. But it won't necessarily last the further back you go.
Kathy Cardoza and I co-wrote a short article on naming practices. It can be found on the Azores GenWeb here: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~azrwgw/naming.html Doug da Rocha Holmes also wrote a series (4 of them, I think) of article for the Portuguese Cultural and Historical Society, based out of Sacramento. He sells these articles. I don't know where the info is on his web site, but you can poke around yourself here: www.dholmes.com Cheri Mello Who really thinks this is her last name and is quite content with the 2 Ls. (If it followed the pattern of taking the father's surname, it would be Jacome) -- To unsubscribe from this group, send email to azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. Follow the confirmation directions when they arrive. For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail (vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Azores. Click in the blue area on the right that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership."
