Posted By:	Lisa Looney
	Email:
	Subject:	Silva, Sylvia, Da Santo to Santo, Why? 1880-1900
	Post Date:	May 22, 2006 at 18:42:43
	Message URL:	http://genforum.genealogy.com/silva/messages/846.html
	Forum:	Silva Family Genealogy Forum
	Forum URL:	http://genforum.genealogy.com/silva/

I have two great grandparents who came to this country from the Azore Islands (maybe Pico and St. Michael) between 1880 and 1892. They may have come through NY and then settled in MA. On census reports and family records, their names started out as: Silva / Sylvia then Da Santo then Santo On Church documents it was listed as "Santo", maybe because "Santos" means the Spirit of God. I wonder if Silva or Sylvia was even their real name or if they chose to change it. Neither great grandparent could read or wirte English very well when they first immigrated here. Maybe that is why. I do have more info about the family and their children. Can anyone help? Thanks. Lisa Looney