Lionel, I check my database on Portuguese Names and Their Meanings and found the following for BEM:
I hope this helps with your research. Eugenia Bem - Has a Armorial Bem, de Bem - Information is from: Doug da Rocha Holmes, "NAMING TRADITIONS, SURNAME TYPES", OProgresso, Dece. 1995, Vol. 14, No. 4, page 10 Bem - Information is from the book: James H. Guill, A HISTORY OF THE AZORES ISLANDS, Golden Shield International, Vol. 5, 1993, page 184. Bem - adv. well, right, much, very. / Muito b., very well / b. que, although / nem b. nem mal, so so / b. pouco, very little / b. longe, a good way off / ora b., well, now! / por-se de b. com alguém, to make it up with somebody / estar de b. com alguém, to be on good terms with one / b. se me dd, I don't care / ab. dizer, as it were / tudo correu tao b. que nao podia ser melhor, it happened as well as could be. Bem - substantive masculine, good benefit, blessing, advantage, happiness; object of esteem or love. / Levar a b., to approve, to take it in good part / querer b., to wish well, to love / homem de b., an honest man / meu b., my love, my sweet heart / desejar b. a alguém, to wish one well / nem b. nem mal, to be like a chip in porridge. Information is from: Júlio Albino Ferreira, Dr. Armando de Morais, DICIONARIO PORTUGUES- INGLES, Editorial Domingos Barreira, Rua Oliveira Monteiro, 343 - Porto, Portugal, 1952, page 119. -- 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."
