GEN-AFRICAN-L Archives

From: Lorna <>
Subject: Slave naming traditions
Date: 28 May 1997 08:53:46 -0700

In reply to Lesley-

ALWAYS is a very definitive word but it is of interest that
Cape Town telephone directory (which covers the area where many
descendants would be living) does not list Van der Kaap or
other varients as a surname. It is unlikely that descendants
would have chosen to be reminded of man's worst moments of
inhumanity. Slaveholders' inability to cope with original
names gave rise to the ones by which they became known and
places of origin or birth were added to facilitate
documentation as you probably know. The directory lists
Ceylons and Balies but no Bengalens, Ternatens or Macassars to
name but a few names which may indicate descendants of slaves.
It would be interesting to know what happened in other parts of
the world.
Lorna.

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This thread:

• Slave naming traditions by Lesley Robertson <>

  • Slave naming traditions by Lorna <>