Imagem card

Cangaceiros aliases and real name

In the majority, ‘cangaceiros’ were given or chose nicknames or aliases, calling them “war names”, which, generally, were related to their personal characteristics, abilities or biographical facts.

Cangaceiros aliases and real name

Article available in: PT-BR ESP

Last update: 04/09/2013

By:

[...] Quando se fala em cangaço (When you speak of ‘cangaço’)
Lembra logo Lampião (Remember Lampião)
Como falar em forró (When talking of forró)
Lembra logo Gonzagão (Remember Gonzagão)
Foi Cabeleira o primeiro (It was Hairy the first)
Chamado de cangaceiro (Called ‘cangaceiro’)
Nas paragens do Sertão (In the of the semi-arid region)
Seu nome era José Gomes [...] (His name was José Gomes)

(Excerpt from O bandido Cabeleira e o amor de Luisinha (The Cangaceiro ‘Hairy’ and Little Luisa’s Love), Zé Antonio, 2006).

In the majority, ‘cangaceiros’ were given or chose nicknames or aliases, calling them “war names”, which, generally, were related to their personal characteristics, abilities or biographical facts.

There were those that recalled a life of adventure, marks of cruelty, courage, vengeance (Jararaca, Wild Beast, Blond Devil, Splinter Bomb, Fire Spreader), as well as more earthly ones that recalled elements of nature: Hummingbird, Mountain Range of the Sea, Big Blue, White Wing, Nightingale and White Moon.

Aliases served to outwit and confuse enemies and trackers. Some cangaceiro gang leaders went as far as giving their companions the nicknames of other cangaceiros killed in combat. Because of this, there are many cases of two, three or even four cangaceiros sharing the same names, such as ‘Big Blue’. The first Big Blue was a member of Antônio Silvino’s gang, the second was in Sinhô Pereira’s band, and the third belonged to Lightning’s gang.

There were also those who never adopted this subterfuge, challenging the world. They exclaimed their real names with bravado to show their bravery.

Legend has it that Virgulino Ferreira da Silva - the Lantern - was called so because of the speed that he shot, giving the impression of a lantern being lit.

Here, in alphabetical order, are the real names and “war names” of various cangaceiros, based on references cited at the end of the text:

Açucena – Empress of Brazil (a type of flower) (Laurindo Batista Gaia)
Alexandre Mourão
Ameaço - Threat
André Marinheiro – Andrew the Sailor (André Lopes de Sá – also called André Gomes de Sá)
Ângelo Umbuzeiro
Anjo Novo – New Angel (Ângelo Carquejo)
Antão Godê – Bell-shaped Anton (Antão Clemente Gadelha)
Antônio Batista Sobrinho
Antônio Bernardo
Antônio de Engracia
Antônio de Ó
Antônio de Sinhô Naro
Antônio do Gelo – Ice Anthony (Antônio Rosa Ventura)
Antônio Francisco da Silva
Antônio Mariano
Antônio Marinheiro –Anthony the Sailor (Antônio André de Sá)
Antônio Matilde (Antônio José Ferreira)
Antônio Peixe – Anthony the Fish (João Rodrigues de Lima)
Antônio Pereira dos Santos
Antônio Porcino
Antônio Silvino (Manuel Batista de Morais)
Antônio Thomaz
Antônio Valério
Arvoredo – Trees (Hortêncio)
Asa Branca – White Wing, aka Ciço Costa(Cícero Costa Lacerda)
Atividade - Activity
Bagaço – Mess – and later, Meia Noite – Midnight (Antônio Augusto Correia)
Balão – Balloon (Guilherme Alves)
Baliza – Beacon (Lampião’s gang member)
Baliza – Beacon (José Dedé, Sinhô Pereira’s gang member)
Baliza – Beacon (Manuel Batista Elifas, Antônio Silvino gang member)
Bananeira – Banana Tree
Barbosa
Barra Nova – New Point
Beija- Flor – Humming Bird – or Biu – Birdy (Artur José Gomes da Silva)
Bem-Te-Vi – Great Kiskadee (Laurindo)
Benevides – Welcome (Massilon Leite)
Benício (Lucas da Feira’s gang member)
Bicheiro – Gambler (Antônio Silvino’s gang member)
Bimbão
Boa Vista – Good View
Boca Negra – Black Mouth (Custódio - Custodian, José do Telhado’s gang member)
Bom Deveras – Really Good (Manuel Marcolino)
Borboleta – Butterfly (Antônio Silvino’s gang member)
Bronzeado – Tanned (Manuel Ferreira)
Cabeleira – Hairy (José Gomes)
Cabo Preto – Black Cape
Cacheado – Curly (Deodato, Sinhô Pereira’s gang member)
Cachimbo – Pipe (Manuel de Tal, Jesuíno Brilhante’s gang member)
Café Chique – Chic Coffee (José Necão)
Caixa de Fósforo - Matchbox
Cajazeiras – Mombin (Benevides’ gang member)
Cajueiro – Cashew Tree (José Terto)
Canabrava – Wild Sugarcane (Antônio Felix)
Cansanção – Really Tired
Cariri (Joaquim, Cassimiro Honório’s gang member)
Carrasco – Executioner
Carta Branca – Blank Page – or Pedro Quelé (Pedro José Furtado)
Casa Velha – Old House – or Zé Piutá (José Bernardo)
Casca Grossa – Thick Skin (Miguel Inácio dos Santos)
Cassimiro Honório
Chá Preto – Black Tea (Damásio José da Cruz)
Chico Caixão – Chico Coffin (Cornélio, Sinhô Pereira’s gang member)
Chico Pereira (Francisco Pereira Dantas)
Chiquito – Little Chico (Luís do Triângulo’s gang member)
Chocho – Slim (Luís do Triângulo’s gang member)
Cindário (Jacinto Alves de Carvalho)
Cirilo Antão
Cirilo de Engrácia
Cirilo do Lagamar
Clementino Cordeiro de Morais
Clementino José Furtado Quelé
Cobra Preta – Black Snake
Cocada – Coconut Rough (Manuel Marinho)
Coco Verde – Green Coconut (Antônio Silvino’s gang member)
Coqueiro – Coconut Tree (João Cesário)
Coqueiro – Coconut Tree (Joaquim de Tal)
Corisco – Lightning Bolt (Critino Gomes da Silva Cleto)
Cravo Roxo – Purple Carnation
Criança – Child (Corisco’s gang member)
Criança – Child (Tibúrcio Santos’ gang member)
Criança – Child (José Francisco da Silva)
Dadá (Sérgia Ribeiro da Silva, Corisco’s wife)
Damião – Damien (Tibúrcio Santos’ gang member)
Delegado – Sheriff (João Severiano, Jesuíno Brilhante’s gang member)
Deus-te-guie – God Guide You
Devoção - Devotion
Dô da Lagoa do Mato – Dô of the Forest Lake – or Seu Dô – Mr Dô (Dativo Correia Cavalcanti)
Duque – Duke – or Duquinha – Little Duke (Antônio Silvino’s gang member)
Elpídio Freire
Esperança – Hope (Antônio Ferreira da Silva, Lampião’s Brother)
Faísca – Sparky (Floro Gomes’s gang member)
Ferrugem – Rusty (Deco Batista)
Fiapo – Lint (Andrelino, Sinhô Pereira’s gang member)
Firmino Miranda
Flaviano (Lucas da Feira’s gang member)
Floro Gomes
Francisco Barbosa
Fura Moita (Firmino Paulino)
Gato – Cat (Amâncio Guedes de Farias, Antônio Silvino’s gang member)
Gato – Cat (Sinhô Pereira’s gang member)
Gato – Cat (José Pereira, Jesuíno Brilhante’s gang member)
Gato – Cat (Sátiro de Tal, Lampião’s gang member)
Gavião – Hawk
Gitirana
Guerreiro – Warrior (Corisco’s gang member)
Inácio Nóbrega de Medeiros
Ioiô – Yo-yo (Antônio Quelé, brother of José Furtado Clementino Quelé, Quintino Quelé and Pedro Quelé – Blank Page)
Jaçanã – Wattled Jacana
Jacaré – Alligator
Jandaia – Raft
Januário (Lucas da Feira’s gang member)
Jararaca (a type of snake) (José Leite de Santana)
Jesuíno Brilhante (Jesuíno Alves de Melo Calado)
Jiboião (Francisco, Sinhô Pereira’s gang member)
Jitirana
João Branco – White Jack (Cassimiro Honório’s gang member)
João Brito (André Marinheiro’s gang member)
João Cirino
João da Banda – Jack of the Band (João de Arruda Cordeiro)
João Dedé
João Mariano
João Nogueira Donato
João Vaqueiro – Cowboy Jack (Tibúrcio Santos’s gang member)
Joaquim (Lucas da Feira’s gang member)
Joaquim Cariri
Joaquim Coqueiro
Joaquim Gomes (Vinte Dois’s gang member)
Joaquim Mariano
Joaquim Marques
Joaquim Monteiro
José (Lucas da Feira’s gang member)
José Bacalhau – Codfish Joe
José Baiano – Bahia Joe
José Baliza – Beacon Joe
José Barbosa
José Barbosa
José Bizarria (Luís do Triângulo’s gang member)
José Côco – Coconut Joe (Benevides’s gang member)
José da Umburana – Umburana Joe (José Alves de Carvalho)
José de Genoveva – Genoveva Joe
José de Guida (José Alves de Lima)
José Dedé
José Marinheiro – Sailor Joe (José André de Sá)
José Melão – Joe the Melon
José Pedro
José Pequeno – Little Joe (André Marinheiro’s gang member)
José Pequeno – Little Joe (Benevides’s gang member)
José Pinheiro
José Prata – Silver Joe
José Roque (Benevides’s gang member)
José Sereno (Antônio Ribeiro)
José Valério (Tibúrcio Santos’s gang member)
Jovino Cirino
Júlio Porto (Benevides’s gang member)
Jurema (Inácio Nobre de Medeiros)
Jurema (Inácio Nóbrega de Medeiros)
Juriti (João Soares)
Labareda – Blaze (Ângelo Roque da Silva)
Labareda – Blaze (Pedro Francisco da Luz, cabra de Antônio Silvino)
Lampião – Lantern (Virgulino Ferreira da Silva)
Latada – Trellis (Raimundo Ângelo)
Lavandeira – Washer
Limoeiro – Lime Tree
Lua Branca – White Moon
Lucas da feira – Lucas of the Fair
Lucas das Piranhas – Piranha Luca
Luís Brilhante (Benevides’s gang member)
Luís do Triângulo – Louis of the Triangle – or Luís da Cacimba Nova – Louis of the New Pipe (Luís Pereira de Souza ou Luís Nunes de Souza)
Luís Padre – Father Louis (Luís Pereira da Silva Jacobina)
Luís Pedro (Luís Pedro Cordeiro)
Luís Sabino
Maçarico (Luís Macário)
Malícia (Luís Macário)
Mane Chiquim
Mansidão (Luís Mansidão)
Manuel Ângelo
Manuel Barbosa
Manuel Benedito
Manuel de Emília
Manuel de Nara (Antônio Silvino’s gang member)
Manuel Isidoro da Cunha
Manuel Pajeú
Manuel Porcino
Manuel Prata
Manuel Santana
Manuel Toalha
Manuel Vaqueiro
Manuel Vítor da Silva ou Manuel Vítor Martins
Mão Foveira – Pale Hand – or Serra d´Umã (Domingos de Souza)
Mão-de-Grelha – Grill Hands (Marculino, Sinhô Pereira’s gang member)
Marcula (Marculino do Juá)
Maria Bonita – Pretty Mary (Maria Déa de Oliveira)
Mariano (Mariano Laurindo Granja)
Marinheiros – Sailors (brothers Antônio André and José André)
Marreca – Hunchback (Marculino Pereira)
Mateus
Meia Noite – Midnight (Antônio Augusto Correia)
Meia Noite – Midnight (Vicente Feliciano de Lima)
Mel-com-terra – Honey with Dirt (Benedito Valério)
Mergulhão – Dipper (Constantino, Sinhô Pereira’s gang member)
Mergulhão I – Dipper I (Lampião’s gang member)
Mergulhão II – Dipper II – or Marguião (Lampião’s gang member)
Meu Primo – My Cousin (Sátiro)
Miguel Feitosa
Miguel Praça
Mocinho Godê
Moderno (Virgínio)
Moeda – Coin
Moita Braba – Thick Brush
Moitinha – Little Bush (Joaquim Brás)
Mormaço - Haze
Mourão – Fencepost (Pedro, Sinhô Pereira’s gang member)
Navieiro – Sailor (Deodato, Sinhô Pereira’s gang member)
Neco Barbosa
Negro Tibúrcio – Black Tibúrcio (Tibúrcio Santos)
Nicolau (Lucas da Feira’s gang member)
Padre - Priest (José Antônio)
Pancada – Smack (José Lino de Souza)
Passarinho – Little Bird
Pedro Fernandes
Pedro Miranda
Pedro Paulo
Pedro Porcino
Pedro Rocha
Pilão Deityado – Lying Pestle (Antonio Dino)
Pinga Fogo – Fire-starter (cabra de Benvides)
Pintadinho – Spotty (Manuel Lucas de Melo)
Pitombeira – Pitomba Tree (Manuel Vitória)
Plínio (Sinhô Pereira’s gang member)
Pontaria – Sight (Ricardo Neném)
Ponto Fino – Sharp Point (Ezequel Ferreira da Silva or Ezequiel Profeta dos Santos, younger brother of Lampião)
Português – Portuguese (Francelino José Nunes)
Quinta-Feira – Thursday
Quintino Quelé
Raimundo Agostinho
Raimundo Constantino
Raimundo Patrício
Raimundo Tabaqueiro
Rajado – Brindle (João Davi)
Rajado – Brindle (José Davi)
Reboliço – Turmoil
Relâmpago – Lightning (Corisco’s gang member)
Relâmpago – Lightning (Lampião’s gang member)
Relâmpago – Lightning (José Felipe Carmo dos Santos)
Rio Branco – White River (Corisco’s gang member)
Rio Preto – Black River (Firmo José de Lima)
Rouxinol – Nightingale (José Nogueira Deodato)
Sabiá – Thrush
Sabino (Sabino Gomes de Góis, aka Gomes de Melo and Barbosa de Melo as well as Gore or Goa)
Sabonete - Soap
Saracura
Sereno - Quiet
Serra Branca – White Range (Joaquim José de Moura or Joaquim de Moura Barbosa)
Sila (Ilda Ribeiro de Souza, José Sereno’s wife)
Sinhô Pereira or Seu Rodrigues – Mr Rodrigues (Sebastião Pereira e Silva)
Suspeita – Suspect (Orestes, Sinhô Pereira’s gang member)
Tempestade – Storm (Antônio Felix)
Tempo Duro – Hard Time
Teotônio da Siliveira (sic) (Luís do Triângulo’s gang member)
Terto Barbosa
Tiburtino
Toinho da Cachoeira – Little Tony of the Waterfall (Luís do Triângulo’s gang member)
Torquato (Luís do Triângulo’s gang member)
Trovão - Thunder
Ulisses Liberato de Alencar
Urso – Bear (Ursulino dos Santos)
Valderedo Ferreira
Vassoura – Broom (Livino Ferreira da Silva or Livino Ferreira dos Santos or Livino Ferreira de Souza, Lampião’s brother).
Velocidade – Speedy (Pedro Pauferro da Silva)
Venâncio
Ventania – Gale (Antônio Silvino’s gang member)
Vereda – Path (Corisco’s gang member)
Vicente de Marina
Vicente Moreira
Vinte Cinco – Twenty-five (José Alves de Matos)
Vinte Dois – Twenty-two (João Marculino)
Volta Seca – Returning Drought (Antônio dos Santos)
Zé Baiano – Bahia Joe
Zé Sereno – Quiet Joe

Recife, 19 July 2010.
Translated by Peter Leamy, February 2011.

 

sources consulted

CANGAÇO. Disponível em: <http://www.portalsaofrancisco.com.br/alfa/cangaco/cangaco-5.php>. Acesso em: 6 jul. 2010.

MELLO, Frederico Pernambucano de. Guerreiros do sol: o banditismo no Nordeste do Brasil. Recife: Fundaj, Ed. Massangana, 1985.

MULHERES no cangaço. Disponível em: <http://www.tudonahora.com.br/noticia/artigos/2009/03/08/47667/mulheres-no-cangaco>. Acesso em: 6 jul. 2010.

NICÉAS, Alcides. Foram 4 os Azulão do cangaço. Recife, 1983. Mimeografado.
 

 

how to quote this text

Source: GASPAR, Lúcia. Cangaceiros: alcunhas e nomes próprios. Pesquisa Escolar On-Line, Joaquim Nabuco Foundation, Recife. Available at:  <http://basilio.fundaj.gov.br/pesquisaescolar/>. Accessed: day month year. Exemple: 6 Aug. 2009.