Subject: [History] What is in a Name

Article:

Slavery was abolished in 1863 and each plantation owner was paid 300 guilders for each slave. From lists to record payment there were in 1862 some 36,000 slaves in Suriname. These lists are being kept in the archives in the Hague, Holland. In 1862 slaves were given a family name and were registered in the government's registrars office. These registers are also known as emancipation-registers. They are still located in Paramaribo in the Bureau Bevolkingszaken. Only family names were issued which were not used or known in Suriname and Holland. These were manmade names which resemble Dutch names but did not exist before 1863. Some examples are: Grootfaam, Blokland, Graanoogst, Wijntuin, Rijkaard, Blankendaal, Boerenveen, Landveld etc. The name Babel was already known in Suriname before 1863. Although the importation of slaves was forbidden since 1808 slaves were still smuggled in the country. A slave by the name of Babel was smuggled in on a French ship. The ship was intercepted by the authorities and the slaves could not be sold and were 'free slaves'. Besides a family name, slaves could select a first name and middle name. Some kept their slave name but many took a Dutch name. For example Ma Mofina became Fanny Landveld. ---------




Met dank aan Albert Buys