Portuguese Surnames in America: Dos Passos and Pereira

Again, per Miguel Oliveira‘s book on John Dos Passos as immigrant, many Portuguese-American immigrants change their surnames to assimilate into American culture. “dos Passos” became “Dos Passos” (a relatively small change) and, in other families, “Pereira” became “Perry.” Super-famous American singer, Steve Perry, the voice of Journey and “Don’t Stop Believin’,” was born in Hanford, California, the son of Raymond Perry (Pereira). I don’t know who decided on the name change or when.

Check out this discussion of Raymond Perry’s old radio station in California, KIGS-AM 620, in online archives of Valley Voice:

For this media manager, KIGS is a labor of love. He takes pride in his “100 percent Portuguese,” ancestry. Viera’s family immigrated to America in 1898. He also boasts of the Steve Perry connection with the station and the singer’s Portuguese roots, citing Perry’s real family name of Pereira.