ABC - American Born Chinese
Chinese descendants from China
Pioneers who left the homeland
Unique aspects to American Chinese
Chinese names in U. S. records
The name "King" not a Chinese name
Wen or Wan is the original surname
Grandfather Wan Sam Jow (the immigrant)
Sam Jower is the name he became (or he Americanized the name.)
Tailor he changed his name to Sam Jower King for business purposes.
Background on Chinese Names:
How to search for local records
Other resources
Surnames
Usually one syllable or character, but can be two
Wang Li Zhang
Ouyang Situ (two character surnames)
1. Surname comes first Wang Yujia
Li Kequiang
Zhang Yimou (famous movie director
Given Names: One or two syllables or characters
Yao Ming
If two syllables, it is often generation name and a personal name
generation name + personal name
Wen Dexiu (brother)
Wen Deji (brother)
Wen Deyi (cousin)
Impact of research
Researching immigrant ancesstors:
Spellings vary
Names become Westernized or localized
Paper names
Knowing surname is key
Multiple given names over a lifetime
Spellings vary for a number of reasons
romanization systems
Li Kequiang (Pinyin system) (standard Romanization system) same name as below
Li K'e Ch'iang (Wade-Giles)
Beijing and Peking same (different Romanization system)
Dialect or language differences:
Li Kequiang (Mandarin) Pinyin)
Lei Haak Koeng (Cantonese)
Li Hak Keng (Taishanese) (many Americans came from sub-dialect of Cantonese)
Wrote things down as they heard them.
Chen Mandarin
Chan/Chus Cantonese
Korean Jin
Japanese Chin
Taishanese Chin/Chinn
Chaozhou Tan
Fujian, south Tan
Fujian, north Ting
Hakka Chin
Names become Westernized:
Wan Sam Jow became Sam JOWER
DONG Siu Hang became Hang DONG
CHEE Kim Yuk became Rose Kim Yuk CHEE
PAPER NAMES:
Chinese Exclusion Act 1882-1943: Paper names were names of illegal immigrants who purchased falsified certificates to enter the U.S.
Example: CHIN Gong Kel became LEE Tung or Tung LEE
San Francisco earthquake destroyed many records. If already established they could bring in their family members. Many more came in than father could sire.
Picture of person with his paper father (not his real father)
Emigration process at Angel Island (took up to two weeks to enter) Long questionnaire
How many rows of houses in your village? Who lives in first house, the next house If something didn't match, put up a red flag.
Coaching books so the Chinese could study.
Silver lining (government records available in National Archives)
Case Study
Grandparents of Darryl Dong
Grandfather Hang Dong Immigrated Butte MT ca 1885
Grandmother: Lon Tom (Tong)
Five children: Wm, Joseph, Earl, James Mary
Hong Dong
China
Butte, Montana
Sing Dong Hang William (birth certificate)
B 25 June 1915
Hang Dong
Long Tong
Born 1916 file 1922
Watch for address
Doctor
Indexed by H in Vital Records Index
Address is the same
Lon Tom Butte MT
Another records shows Sing Hang (1922 registration date)
214 Colorade St. Butte MT
Joseph Guang Dong
Father Hang Dong
Surname and given name can be mixed up in the records.
Then search FS by Hang as the surname instead of Dong.
Switch the order of names.
Hawaiianized Chinese names
LAU Say Kan becomes nicknamed Ah Kan (Ah is attached to first name)
Eventually, his surname becomes AKANA
Elder Wing original name HO
CHEE Wah (JEE WAH) alias
CHE WA married WANG CHOI HA
Names of all children when he was in jail
May 26 1910 Evening Bulletin
Chinese child drowned in Hawaii named Ah Wa.
Hilo, Hawaii
Death certificate showed name as Ah You son of Ah Wah and Choi Ha