Surnames on Flores: ARMAS, FRAGA, FURTADO, LIZANDRO, REIS, RODRIGUES, SERPA, SILVEIRA, VALADÃO (=Valladão)

[Katharine]

Perhaps this subject line will be clearer in seeking members who
recognize any of these names that were mentioned in various old
letters from Ponta da Fajã Grande das Flores.

In some old family letters in Portuguese dated 1913-1938 to my great-
grandmother in Northern California (a native of Ponta da Fajã Grande
das Flores) I've found the following names, which I've listed
alphabetically below, along with year(s) of letter(s); some names have
different spellings in different letters. All the letters except one
are from Ponta, and all but two have dates.

Please let me know if you recognize any of these names! Also, has
anyone ever heard of a place near Fajã Grande called "Grota Seca" (=
dry cave or grotto)?

Obrigada, Katharine.

ARMAS, Fernando - 1920
FRAGA, João de Freitas de - undated
FURTADO, Isabel [Oakland, CA.] - 1921
FURTADO, Manuel Luiz - 1936, '38
LIZANDRO, José - 1921, '36
LIZANDRO, Manuel - undated
REIS, Srs. de - 1923
RODRIGUES, Antonio - 1938
SERPA, Ignácio - undated
SILVEIRA, Ana Floripes (Floripe, Fluripas) da - 1917, '20, '21, '26
SILVEIRA, Maria Mateus (Matheus) da - 1913, '15, '23, '25, '26, '38
VALADÃO (Valladão), Antonio - 1913, '26, undated
VALADÃO, João - 1921, '23, '26, undated
VALADÃO, José - 1921
VALADÃO, José Antonio - undated
VALADÃO, Senhor - 1913

[JR]

I have no info about Flores but perhaps I can give you some insight on
the name "Grota Seca" . It literally means dry cave. But in my
expereince this a small area or neighbourhood within the village or
town. Most have such names, depending on their characteristics. My
family was from a neighbourhood called Grotas Fundas; that is "deep
caves".

[Katharine]

Re "grota seca":

I've read claims that the earliest settlers on Flores lived in caves
on the island for about a decade, before they could establish
themselves well enough to build homes -- although my impression was
that it occurred over on the east coast, from just below Santa Cruz
down to north of Lomba. But who knows, maybe it was also done on the
west coast of Flores (or on other islands) as well -- anybody know?

[JR]

It seems I made an error on the definition of grota seca. I am sorry
about that. It is simply the name of a place and it means:

Translation for "grota" is valley! "Grota seca" means dry valley.

Other meanings: It is a terrain situated in between 2 mountains or
Deep valley.
An area carved by the fast rushing of the river waters. A depression
made by heavy water on the side of a hill or mountain.

For years I thought it meant cave! And there are caves where my
family is from. On the other hand, Grotas Fundas is located between
hills. Thanks to Margaret for the correction.

JR

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