Denise, Chicharo *as a name* is new to me. - Chicharo is a vegetable (a leguminosae - sometimes the English language looks more to Latin than Portuguese, doesn't it?). - Chicharro is a kind of sardine (carapau). - And we also have Chichorro... our king Afonso III had an illegitimate son called Martim Afonso. His nickname was "Chichorro" (meaning "little one" - pequenino) and remained as a family name for some generations. Luis K W Lisboa-Portugal ---------- > From: TARA1197@aol.com > Hi Paulo, > > Is Chicharo a surname or an alcunha?? The name was used as Luis Nobrega > Chicharo, but I have never heard of Chicharo before. > > Denise