What People Want to Know

The first question we are asked about our name is, “how do you pronounce it?” Its easier than it looks: go-gan-jam.

What is the Origination of Our Name?

This is the mystery that engages people. Our name has generated many comments and much speculation regarding its source. Here are a few examples:

Far Eastern Religious Philosophy

Confucius A number of people have suggested that our name comes from an Eastern Religious philosophy based loosely on the concept of Romanticism, emphasizing inspiration, subjectivity, and the primacy of the individual. While a fascinating proposition, we can’t imagine from whence this idea was derived.

Anishinaabemowin

Hogan - Permanent HomePronounced easily by simply breaking it down to vowel/consonant clusters: a-ni-shi-naa-be-mo-wi-n.
Another group supports the idea that Ghoganjam comes from the language of the Odawa (Ottawa) people a.k.a. Anishinaabe, original person or the people of this place, the Native Americans who inhabited the northern United States and southern Canada. Anishinaabemowin is their language. This is a connection due to Ghoganjam Grinding’s location in Byron Center, Michigan, just west of Grand Rapids and a short distance from Ottawa County. While the Ottawa nation was indigenous to the geographic area where Ghoganjam Grinding is based, we work for companies from many geographic regions.

African Connection

The Supreme Being, the Sun, and the Moon.
We have heard speculations that our name has to do with symbols from a cultural group in Central Africa. The Luba hold a belief regarding three circles, each composed of three concentric circles representing the Supreme Being, the Sun, and the Moon. Sadly, this too is derived from someone’s vivid imagination.

The Simple Truth

TruthA dear family friend of Tim Vandam, the founder of Ghoganjam Grinding, has nicknames for Tim’s three children: G; Hogan; and Jam. Yes it is that simple. and yes, Tim named the company after his three children!