Xayab'aj

Conforme al lingüista k'iche' Sam Colop (2008: 203n360), quien cita al investigador Adrián Recinos (1953: 236), Xayab'aj "sería el actual pueblo de Joybaj."

Anthropologist Allen J. Christenson (2007: 282n801) translates the place name, which he writes as Aj Xay Ab'aj, as "They of Combed Mountain." He cites personal communication with anthropologist Ruud van Akkeren for the idea that "this should be Ah Xoy Abah (Polishing Stone/Jasper). The Xoy lineage lived along the Chixoy River, centered at the place where the road from the Verapaz region crosses it on its way to Sacapulas. A branch of this lineage settled the modern area of Joyabaj. According to Ximénez, Joyabaj marked the border between the Central Quiché to the west and the Rabinal to the east (Ximénez 1929-31, I.lxxiv.484)."