Kumeyaay Clans and Territory
Kumeyaay trace their family lineage back to a distant past and often to animals and creatures. The table below depicts clans that were still extant in San Diego in the early 1900s. Several of the clans reportedly originated in what is now Imperial Valley and clearly document a strong and probably ancient Kumeyaay presence in the territory east of the Cuyamaca and Laguna Mountains and into the Algodones Dunes.
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CLAN |
MEANING |
GLOSS/FAMILY NAME |
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Tipai (Southern) |
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Kwitak |
Quitac |
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Nahwach/Naxwate |
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Yachap/Yatcap |
LaChappa |
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Miskwis/Mishkwis |
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Kwamai |
Wants to be tall |
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Saikul |
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Kwatl |
Animal hide |
Cuero/Hyde |
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Hetmeil/Hitlmiup |
Hilmeup |
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Kanihich/Kwinhich |
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Hayipa |
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Hakisput |
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Tumau |
Grasshopper |
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Kanihite/Kwinhite |
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Bolded clans are desert-based |
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Ipai (Northern) |
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Kukuro |
Dark/Shady |
Couro |
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Letcapa |
LaChappa |
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Matuwir/Methuir |
Hard like a rock |
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Critcak/Shrichak |
Kind of owl |
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Kwilp/Kwitlp |
Name of a shrub |
Quilp |
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Xesil/Hesitl |
Manzanita bush |
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U’u |
Kind of owl |
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Baipa |
Paipa |
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Esun |
Osuna |
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Gwaha/Kwaha |
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Tumau |
Grasshopper |
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Xipuwac/Hipuwach |
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SHIMULKS (CLANS) OF SOUTHEASTERN SAN DIEGO COUNTY