The Caribbean islands was inhabited by the Amerindians for some 4000 years before the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492. Therefore, of course, they had their own names for the islands.
There were 2 distinct groups.
1) The Arawak’s - Also known as Taino.
2) The Caribs - Also known as the Kalinago
Cuba - Some authors think it was names after the town of Cuba in the Beja in Portugal, but I am almost sure it is a derivation of the indigenous name, Cubao, its way to close for it to be a coincidence. Although the meaning is not sure Cubao may be translated to “Where the fertile land is abundant”.
Jamaica - This one is easy because I think most persons know that the indigenous name for Jamaica is Xaymaca, which of course, Jamaica is derived from. The meaning of Xaymaca is “land of wood and water or land of Springs”
Hispaniola - for those that don’t know, Hispaniola is the name if the whole Island that includes the nations of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. So, the original names might have been Ayiti or Kiskeya, Ayiti of course became Haiti. Ayiti means rough earth or mountainous land. Kiskeya means Mother of all lands.
Puerto Rico - Which means rich Port in Spanish. Indengous name was Boriken which itself means “land of the Valiant and noble Lord”.
Anguilla - which means eel is some form of early Spanish was named Malliouhana by the Taino natives it means Arrow Shaped Sea Serpent because of its shape.
St. Martin - This refers to the entire island, not the different parts as you know St. Martin is shared by the Netherlands and French. The island is named after Saint Martin of Tours because Christopher Columbus named on St. Martin’s Day. 11 November. The original indigenous names where Soualiga or Oualichi which means “land of Salt”.
St. Kitts - Which has a formal name of Saint Christopher Island, Ingenious name was Liamuiga which means “fertile land”
Nevis - Which is derived for the Spanish phrase “Nuestra Senora d las Nieves” meaning Our lady of the Snow”. The Carib name was Oualie, meaning “land of beautiful waters”.
Montserrat - named after the Virgin of Montserrat of Montserrat mountain near Barcelona in Catalonia in Spain. Its Carib name is Alliouagana, which means “land of prickly Bush”.
Barbuda - Which most lightly means “bearded” original Carib name was Wa’omoni meaning “land of Herons or Large birds”
Antigua - ancient in Spanish - original indigenous name is Waladi which mean “land of Fish Oil”
Guadeloupe - named after the Virgin Mary, venerated in the Spanish town of Guadalupe. With the indigenous name being Karuhera. Means “island of beautiful water”
Dominica - named after the Latin word for Sunday after the day Christopher Columbus spotted the island. The Caribs named it Wai'tukubuli which means “Tall as Her Body”
Martinique - The name evolved from the original name giving to it Martinica to Madinina Which mean “island of flowers”. There are claims that Madinina is the Carib name of the island but there is evidence it was also called Jouanacaëra meaning ‘the island of Iguanas
St. Lucia - names after Saint Lucy of Syracuse. The Carib name was Hewanorra meaning “land of the Iguanas
St. Vincent - so named because it is said Columbo “discovered” it on 22 January, the feast day of Saint Vincent of Saragossa. The Carib name is Hairouna meaning “land of the blessed.”
Grenada - Not totally sure the original of name Grenada, one theory is it names after the town of Granada in Spain. The indigenous name is Chamerhogue, but I could not find the meaning of this word.
Barbados - Derived from the Spanish word Los Barbados, meaning “the bearded ones”. The indigenous name is Ichirouganaim with possible translations meaning Red land with white teeth” or just “teeth” about the coral Reefs.
Tobago - Which has no other recorded name other than that of Tobago which means tobacco pipe. It can be indigenous as the word for Tobacco has roots in native Taino/Carib languages.
Trinidad - So named because the full Spanish name was “Isla de la Trinidad” which means the island of the Trinity”. The original Indigenous name was said to be Iëre meaning “land of the Hummingbird” but it has been accepted that that was a corruption of the Awarak work Kairi which mean simple “island”.
________________________________________________________
Follow me!
- Facbook - / yofootexplores
- Subscribe - / yofootexplores
- Instagram! - @yohanpartap
- Tumblr - yofoot.tumblr.com
________________________________________________________
Music:
Artist: Dj GoToe
Track: Soca Riddim beat 2010
Support the artist:
/ djgotoe
djgotoe@hotmail.com
18 авг 2024
