San Salvador and Cat Island name change

On May 6th 1926 under act no. 27 San Salvador’s name was changed to Cat Island and Cat Island was changed to San Salvador. This was based on historians believing it to be a more likely match for Columbus's description of Guanahani 

For 4 centuries Cat island was called San Salvador and thought by some to be the first landfall of Columbus in the new world. 

A big catalyst to the name change would be Father Chrysostom Schreiner who convinced The Bahamian Parliament to officially rename San Salvador. Father Schreiner was a history enthusiast that researched Columbus landing extensively. He was very instrumental in the island’s official renaming.  

Father Chrysostom Schreiner has an interesting story, after being saved from a shipwreck by the people of San Salvador he vowed to devote the rest of his life to them, he eventually became the first catholic priest to be permanently assigned to The Bahamas. 

Those affected by the name change are still around today, Bahamians born on Cat Island before 1926 have San Salvador on their birth certificate. Also the small island located near Cat Island still bears the name Little San Salvador