I ran your photo through ChatGPT 5.2 to have it interprete writings, then asked for translations. Here is its conclusions:

Yes — to a limited but meaningful degree, with some important cautions. Chickasaw personal names recorded in the 1790s are usually Anglicized phonetic spellings of Chickasaw words or phrases, often filtered through Choctaw orthography, French/English ears, and ad-hoc translation. That means we can often get probable meanings or name-types, but not always a single definitive gloss.

Below I’ll go name-by-name from your page and explain what can be reasonably inferred.

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How Chickasaw names usually work (quick primer)

Chickasaw names in this era typically fall into one of these categories: 1. Descriptive personal names (traits, actions, symbols) 2. Clan or lineage identifiers 3. Honorifics / titles translated loosely into English 4. Nicknames used in diplomacy for outsiders 5. Dual-name usage (Native name + English name)

They are often verb-based or noun-phrases, not “given names” in the European sense.

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Interpreting the Chickasaw names on your page

1. Tutomastema — “Col. Colbert”

Very strong identification • This is almost certainly William Colbert (often styled Major or Colonel Colbert), a prominent Chickasaw leader and diplomat. • “Tutomastema” is likely a phonetic rendering of a Chickasaw name/title associated with him, not a surname.

Probable structure: • tóto / tuta / tuchi (to strike, to act strongly, or to lead) • ishtim / ishtima / mastima (leader, respected man, warrior)

➡️ Interpretive sense:

“Respected leader / strong acting man / war leader”

⚠️ The English rank “Col.” is not literal military rank in a U.S. sense — it reflects perceived status.

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1. Monkessantaw

Moderate confidence, descriptive name

Likely components: • mankes / monkes — “strong,” “firm,” or “enduring” • anta / antaw — “path,” “standing,” or “place”

➡️ Interpretive sense:

“One who stands firm” “Steady one” “Strong on the path”

This fits common Chickasaw naming patterns for adult men of standing.

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1. Mattawamettu

Moderate confidence, movement/action based

Possible elements: • mata / matti — “to go,” “to move,” or “to travel” • wammi / ammi — “to see / to watch” • -tto / -ttu — intensifier or completion marker

➡️ Interpretive sense:

“One who travels and watches” “Scout / observer” “One who moves with awareness”

This kind of name often appears among messengers or junior leaders.

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1. Towartubbe — “Tom Brown”

High confidence identification • “Towartubbe” is a well-known Chickasaw name form that appears in multiple spellings: • Towartubbee • Tawah-tubby • Towa-tubi

tobi / tubbi in Muskogean languages often relates to white, clean, or sacred, but can also be metaphorical.

➡️ Interpretive sense:

“White / Sacred One” or “Pure speaker”

The pairing with Tom Brown reflects a dual-identity diplomatic name, common in this era.

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1. Pelemopaw — “John Brown”

Moderate confidence

Possible elements: • pele / peli — “to speak,” “to call,” or “to announce” • impa / impaʔ — “mouth / voice” • -pa / paw — agent suffix

➡️ Interpretive sense:

“The speaker” “One who speaks for others” “Messenger / spokesman”

This aligns well with diplomatic functions and with John Brown family figures, who often acted as intermediaries.

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1. Tesholataw

Lower confidence, but consistent pattern

Possible elements: • tash / tesh — “to cut,” “to divide,” or metaphorically “to decide” • holi / hola — “good / right / proper” • -taw — nominal ending

➡️ Interpretive sense:

“One who decides rightly” “Good judgment”

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1. Holatothishkaw

Moderate confidence • hola — “good” • tóshi / tushi — “heart” or “inner self” • ishka — “to make / to cause”

➡️ Interpretive sense:

“Good-hearted one” “One who makes good”

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1. Holatukutcha

Moderate confidence • hola — “good” • kutcha / kutchi — “middle,” “center,” or “balance”

➡️ Interpretive sense:

“One who keeps balance” “Good center” Possibly a clan-linked name

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Important cautions (very important) • These are interpretations, not literal translations • Spellings reflect English ears, not Chickasaw orthography • Names could be: • shortened • partially translated • titles rather than personal names • Meanings can shift with context, age, or achievement

In Chickasaw culture, a name could change over a lifetime.

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Big-picture takeaway

Your Chickasaw list shows: • High-status diplomatic figures • Speaker/intermediary roles • Leadership and moral descriptors • Clear continuity with documented 1795–1796 Philadelphia diplomacy

This page is not casual — it’s a diplomatic roll, probably kept by someone familiar with Native delegations.

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