Eurasians: resources on tracing family history

Eurasians: resources on tracing family history

Guide Index

This guide is divided into the following sections to help users to navigate through the resources:

The Eurasian Community in Singapore

Eurasians are one of Singapore’s four major ethnic groups. Carrying a pedigree of European and Asian, the Eurasians are also Singapore’s earliest ethnic communities. The origins of the Eurasians in Singapore can be traced to Europeans who migrated en masse to Singapore from the various European settlements in the region such as Malacca, Goa, Ceylon, Bencoolen, Macao and Penang in the 19th century. Of significance were the Portuguese, Dutch and British. But it also included the European ancestries of Danish, French, German, Italian and Spanish though to a lesser extent.

The first Eurasians arrived in Singapore shortly after Sir Stamford Raffles landed on the island in 1819. Similar to other ethnic groups, the Eurasians of early Singapore lived in communal enclaves. One of the earliest known Eurasian enclaves was situated in the Waterloo area, along the three roads of Waterloo Street, Queen Street and Bencoolen Street running parallel to each other. The houses in the area varied from bungalows to terrace houses and from shophouses to two-storey homes. As the early Singapore-Eurasians were Christians, it was no surprise to find them attending churches and schools in the area. Some of the most notably churches and schools in the Waterloo area included the Church of Saint Peter and Paul, Saint Joseph Church, Cathedral of Good Shepherd, and Saint Joseph Institution. As the Singapore-Eurasian community expanded, they began to fan out to other residential areas such as Serangoon, Haig Road, Bukit Timah and Katong.

A distinct Singapore-Eurasian identity began to emerge towards the end of the 1800s when the Eurasians began forming associations to consolidate themselves and to look after the interests of their community. From the 1880s to the start of the Second World War, there were four main organisations to which Eurasians affiliated themselves. These were the Singapore Recreation Club (1883), the Eurasian Association (1919), the Girls’ Sports Club (1929) and the Eurasian Company of the Singapore Volunteer Corps. In addition, the Eurasian community also established a number of newspapers since the 1870s as a means to voice their sentiments. Some of these newspapers included the Straits Intelligence, the Singapore Eurasian Advocate, the Daily Advertiser (later renamed the Phoenix Press), and the Midday Herald (later renamed the Straits Telegraph).

Apart from associations and organisations, the Singapore-Eurasian community also derived some of their cultural identity and sense of community from the rituals and customs they followed. For Eurasians who are Christians, the most important festivals are naturally Christmas and Easter. For other Eurasians who have different faith, they would follow the celebrations of that particular faith. As with any other community groups the Singapore-Eurasian community also has their own culture that cuts across areas ranging from costumes to food.

Due to their fluency in the English language and their European heritage, the common places of employment for the Eurasians were mainly in the civil service and the municipality taking on jobs in government departments such as the Department of Education, Registry of Vehicles, the Police Force or the Government Monopolies Department (Customs department). Many Eurasians also served as engineers with the Keppel Harbour Docks and the Singapore Slipway, while others entered journalism, broadcasting or the private sector joining established banks and companies such as Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank, Shell Company, Dunlop, Boustead and Adamson Gilfillan. Besides these professional positions, many Eurasians who obtained education through government scholarship or family support were among the first lawyers, doctors and university lecturers in Singapore and Malaya.

Similar to other ethnic communities in Singapore, the Singapore-Eurasian community produced prominent figures and leaders who contributed in major ways to their own community and Singapore in general. During the colonial period, Eurasian leaders such as Edwin John Tessensohn, Noel Leicester Clarke, Claude Henry da Silva and Percival Frank Aroozoo were instrumental in strengthening the communal bond and welfare among Eurasians either through various community works or by representing them in the Legislative Council or the Straits Settlements Association, while others like Charles Joseph Pemberton Palgar led the Eurasian community through the Japanese Occupation and tended to the inhabitants of the failing Eurasian community at Bahau. Many prominent Eurasians were involved in Singapore’s struggle for independence as well as the crucial years after independence. Some of them who had taken key roles in the government and civil service included Edward William Barker, George Edwin Bogaars, Hedwig Anuar and Dr. Benjamin Henry Shears.

The post-independence era also saw the Eurasians rebuilt their community bond slowly. In the late 1950s, women were granted membership to the Eurasian Association and Youth groups were formed to encourage community bonding through sports and cultural exchanges. However it was only after 1989 that the Eurasians took on more sustainable efforts through the Eurasian Association to rekindle the sense of belonging shared among the Eurasians, especially the younger generation. In fact, 1989 for the Eurasian Association was known as the year of the Eurasian Awakening as a younger group of Eurasians decided to take the lead to uplift the community. It was a turning point as membership of Eurasian Association began to increase, and more elaborate community bonding programmes and activities were introduced. Furthermore, it also generated research interest among some Eurasians to trace the community or their own Eurasian heritage.

To understand the Singapore-Eurasian community and its heritage, this resource guide lists out the relevant resources and materials that are found within the collections of the National Library and the National Archives of Singapore. It also identifies some authoritative resources that can be found in the web.

References

Origins of the Singapore Eurasians

Tracing the Roots of the Singapore Eurasians

The ancestries of Singapore-Eurasians could be traced to the European traders, explorers and administrators who at different periods between the 16th and 20th centuries followed the growth of the trade route between Europe and Asia to take up residency in European settlements in India, Ceylon, Burma, Malaya, the Malay Archipelago, Indo-China and China. During their residency, some of these European settlers chose to intermarry and establish families with the native population, thus giving rise to a Eurasian identity. The European groups that mainly make up the European ancestries of Singapore-Eurasians were the Portuguese, Dutch and British. It also includes the French, Spanish, German, Danish, Italian but to a lesser extent.

This section lists out the resources that will help us trace the origins of the Singapore-Eurasian community. It focuses on the three major European groups – Portuguese, Dutch and British – that made up the Eurasian community in Singapore. The resources that are listed in this section can be found in the National Library collection as well as the web.

References

Eurasians of Portuguese Decent - Kristang

Kristang, or Papiah Kristang, is a Creole language born from the contacts between speakers of Portuguese and speakers of local and other languages at the time. Kristang can trace its origins to Portugal’s conquest of the maritime trade routes and the establishment of numerous trading posts along these routes in the 16th century, particularly Malacca. In fact, Kristang was the language often used by the Portuguese casado class or the mestico population (Portuguese married to local women loyal to the Portuguese Crown) in Malacca. Today, Kristang is still used by people of Portuguese descent in Malacca and elsewhere in Malaysia and Singapore. Below are examples of Kristang phrases and words.

Thank You: Mutu Merseh

How Are You?: Teng Bong?

Good Morning: Bong Pamiang

Good Afternoon: Bong Midia

Good Evening: Bong Atadi

Good Night: Bong Anuti

Mother: Mai

Father: Pai

Wife: Muleh

Husband: Maridu

Beautiful: Bonitu

 

References

Baxter, Alan N. & De Silva, Patrick. (2004). A dictionary of Kristang. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics.

Scully, Valerie & Zuzarte, Catherine. (2004). The most comprehensive Eurasian heritage dictionary: Kristang-English, English-Kristang. Singapore: SNP Reference.

Portuguese Surnames

Portuguese commoners did not have fixed hereditary surnames until the use and registry of surnames were enforced in Portugal in 1755. Prior to then, hereditary surnames were only used by the Portuguese nobilities as means to convey lineage. However, most Portuguese had names in addition to their given names as identifiers. These identifying names originated from various naming customs that were common in both Portugal and the rest of Europe. One of the most common naming conventions was patronymics where a personal name was based on the name of one's father. For instance, names such as Henriques, Rodrigues and Fernandes are derived from patronymics as the suffix “-es” means “son of”. As a result, Henriques means son of Henriques, while Rodrigues and Fernandes mean son of Rodrigo and son of Fernando. In Spanish patronymics, the suffix is “-ez” instead of “-es”.

Similar to naming practices in other parts of Europe, identifying names could also derive from the individual’s place of origin, trades, characteristics and physical attributes. Therefore, it is common to see prepositions such as “de”, “da”, “das” or “dos” in Portuguese names. These prepositions are contractions of the preposition “de” which is Portuguese for “from the” or “of the”. Some examples of these names are de Sousa (from Sousa), da Silva (from the woods), and dos Santos (of the saints). Identifying names with religious meaning are also common among the Portuguese. A possibility why individuals adopted such names could be because he or she wanted to demonstrate their Catholic faith. Examples of such names are da Conceição (of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary), Pascoal (of Easter) and Ramos (branches, from Palm Sunday).

After surnames were enforced, Portuguese commoners started to use these identifying names as their hereditary surnames. As Portuguese law allows each individual to have up to six names (two given names and four surnames), it is common for a Portuguese to include the surnames from his or her paternal and maternal families.

Below are some Eurasian families in Singapore with Portuguese names:

  • de Souza

  • Pereira

  • Sequeira

  • Aroozoo

  • Oliveria

  • D'Almeida

  • da Silva

  • Noronha

  • Cardoza

  • Fernando

  • Noronha

  • Lopez

  • Gomes

  • Fernandez

  • de Costa

  • Cruz

  • Conceicao

Source: Braga-Blake, Myrna & Ebert-Oehlers, Ann. (1992). Singapore Eurasians: Memories and hopes. Singapore: Times Editions.

Portuguese Roots

Examination of Singapore-Eurasian roots must begin with the Portuguese as they were the first to establish settlements in Asia in places such as Goa, Ceylon, Malacca and Macau in the early 16th century. With the object to propagate a local population that was loyal to the Portuguese crown in these settlements, marriages between Portuguese settlers and native women were encouraged. Some of these Portuguese-Eurasian families that were established through this union who would later migrate to Singapore included the names Cardoza (Goa), Fernando (Ceylon), de Souza (Malacca), Oliveira (Malacca), da Silva (Macau) and Noronha (Macau). The language that they used was Portuguese Creoles. In Malacca, however, it was Kristang. As for religion, the Portuguese-Eurasians were mostly Roman Catholics. Depending on where they were located, Portuguese-Eurasians were known as Luso-Indian (India), Kristang (Malacca) or Macanese (Macau). They were also called Mestico or Filhos da terra (children of the land) in general.

Books

  • Bland, Robert Norman. (1905). Historical tombstones of Malacca, mostly of Portuguese origin. London: E Stock. Call No.: RRARE, RDTYS 959.53 BLA. Microfilm No.: NL 16200

  • Borschberg, Peter (Ed.).2004. Iberians in the Singapore-Melaka area and adjacent regions (16th to 18th century).Wiesbaden, Harrassowitz, Lisboa.Fundação Oriente. Call No.: RSING/SING.959.50046 IBE

    Chan, Kok Eng. (1983). The Eurasians of Malacca. In Kernial Singh Sandhu et. al (Eds.) Melaka: The transformation of a Malay capital, 1400 – 1980. Kuala Lumpur, New York: Oxford University Press. Call No.: RSING 959.5141 MEL

  • Daus, Ronald. (1989). Portuguese Eurasian communities in Southeast Asia. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. Call No.: RSING 305.869059 DAU

  • De Silva Jayasuriya, Shihan. (2008). The Portuguese in the East: A Cultural History of a Maritime Trading Empire. London: Tauris Academic Studies. Call No.: RSING 950 JAY

    This book charts the influences of the Portuguese in more than fifty Asian tongues, illustrating the extent of Lusitanian links. Luso-Asian influence became engrained in eastern cultures in more subtle ways than other European empires which followed, such as the Portuguese oral traditions in folk literature, now embedded in postcolonial Asian music and song.

  • Gunn, Geoffrey C. (2003). First globalization: The Eurasian exchange, 1500 to 1800. Lanham, Md.: Rowman & Littlefield. Call No.: R 303.482504 GUN

    This book presents an original and sweeping conceptualization of the cultural and civilizational encounter between Asia and Europe. Using metageography of the vast Eurasian zone, this book shows how between 1500 and 1800, a lively two-way flow in ideas, philosophies, and cultural products brought competing civilizations into serious dialogue and mostly peaceful exchange.

  • Harfield, Alan. G. (1979). Christian cemeteries and memorials in Malacca and Rasah New Village. London: British Association for Cemeteries in South Asia. Call No.: RSING 929.509595141 HAR

    From the Portuguese time in 1511 through the Dutch occupation (1641-1795) and the British period. Also includes a short history with lists of churches and MIs as well as an account of the local conflicts with lists of casualties in the Malayan Emergency.

  • Jarnagin, Laura (2011). Portuguese and Luso-Asian legacies in Southeast Asia, 1511-2011. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. Call No.: RSING 305.869105 POR

    This book contains case studies that analyse and discuss the intricate consequences of Portuguese interactions in Asia. By combing original archival and/or field research with innovative historiographical perspectives, the case studies explore the Luso-Asian communities as well as the material and symbolic nature of the Luso-Asian heritage with depth and insight.

  • Pintado, M.J. (1993). Portuguese documents on Malacca. Kuala Lumpur: National Archives of Malaysia. Call No.: RSING 959.5102 PIN 

  • Rony, Abdul Kohar & Wiarda, Iéda Siqueira. (1997). The Portuguese in Southeast Asia: Malacca, Moluccas, East Timor. Hamburg: Abera Verlag. Call No.: RSING 016.3058691059 RON

    A bibliography containing citations of resources that explore the topic of Portuguese in Southeast Asia.

  • Sarkissian, Margaret. (2000). D'Albuquerque's children: performing tradition. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press. Call No.: RSING 959.51004691 SAR

    When the Portuguese seafarer Afonso de Albuquerque conquered the bustling port of Malacca in 1511, he effectively gained control of the entire South China Sea spice trade. Although their dominance lasted only 130 years, the Portuguese legacy lies at the heart of a burgeoning tourist attraction on the outskirts of the city, in which performers who believe they are the descendants of swashbuckling Portuguese conquerors encapsulate their "history" in a cultural stage show. Using historical and ethnographic data, Margaret Sarkissian reveals that this music and dance draws on an eclectic array of influences that span the Portuguese diaspora.

  • Smith, Stefan Halikowski. (2011). Creolization and diaspora in the Portuguese Indies: the social world of Ayutthaya, 1640-1720. Leiden; Boston: Brill. Call No.: RSING 305.86910593 SMI

  • Teixeira, Manuel. (1961). The Portuguese missions in Malacca and Singapore, 1511-1958. Lisboa: Agência Geral do Ultramar. Call No.: RCLOS 266.25953 TEI v. 1-3

Eurasians of Dutch Descent

The Burghers

The Burghers are a Eurasian ethnic group, historically from Sri Lanka, consisting for the most part of the male-line descendants of the European colonists and of the maternal ancestry of Sinhalese and Tamil. The term "Burgher" was first introduced by the Dutch to identify the mixed Eurasian people in Ceylon when they took over the island from the Portuguese. It comes from the Dutch word Burger, meaning "citizen" or "resident". People of mixed ancestry were not allowed citizenship of the country of their European fathers, nor of their Asian mothers, so a compromise was found whereby they would be citizens of the towns of their birth, and they were known as "Burgers".

References

Kanagasingam, Rajkumar. (2006, September 23). "An Exploration Into Eurasians: The Burghers of Sri Lanka". ezinearticles. http://EzineArticles.com/308085.

Muller, J. B. (2006). The Burghers. Colombo: Wimal Enterprises.

Dutch Surnames

In the Netherlands, the Dutch nobilities had been using fixed surnames to denote their hereditary lineage as early as the 16th century. However, this practice was adopted by the commoners until much later. Nonetheless, the commoners used names in addition to their given names in order to identify themselves. One common naming method, which goes back to the 15th century, was the using patronymic names. Patronymic means the child’s last name would be a form of the father’s given name. Thus, Claus, son of Barent, would be Claus Barents or Claus Barentsz, Barentsen or Barentszen, depending on how certain regions used abbreviate the “z” in “zoon,” Dutch for “son”.

Other naming methods that the Dutch commonly used were by the individual’s place of origin, their physical attributes, characteristics and trades. As a result, many Dutch names have prepositions like “van”, “van der”, or “de” which are Dutch for “of”, “of the” and “the” respectively. Some examples of these names are van Dyke (of the dike), van der Bilt (from the hill), de Wit (the white) and de Groot (the great).

The Dutch commoners only started to use these names as their hereditary surnames after the introduction of the civil registry in which all persons were required to have a fixed surname in 1811. Some of these names would undergo some variations after the families left Netherlands to settle in the colonies. For example, those who settled in the British colonies changed the spelling of their surnames to adapt to the English sound set. For instance, Filips becomes Philips while Abels becomes Ables.

Below are some Eurasian families in Singapore with Dutch names:

  • Westerhout

  • Kloezeman

  • van Cuylenburg

  • Yzelman

  • Koek

  • Baumgarten

  • Cornelius

  • de Vries

  • Klass

  • Klassen

  • Kraal

  • Velge

    Bartholomeusz

  • Bogaars

  • Ebert

  • Geyzel

  • Tessensohn

  • Hartman

Source: Braga-Blake, Myrna & Ebert-Oehlers, Ann. (1992). Singapore Eurasians: Memories and hopes. Singapore: Times Editions.

Dutch Roots

When the Dutch took over the Portuguese in Malacca and Ceylon in the mid-16th century, they also established Eurasian families with local or existing Portuguese-Eurasian population. Baumgarten, Cornelius, de Vries, Klass, Klassen, Koek, Kraal, Velge and Westerhout were some of the Dutch-Eurasian family names that took root in Malacca. On the other hand, the family names Bartholomeusz, Bogaars, Ebert, Fruigtneit, Leembruggen, Scharenguivel, van Cuylenburg and van Geyzel were the Eurasians of Dutch descent originating in Ceylon or the Burghers. Dutch-Eurasian families carrying names like Yzelman were also established in the Dutch East Indies and were referred to as Indo-Dutch or Indos. Despite their Dutch heritage, some of the Dutch-Eurasians, particularly those in Malacca, spoke Portuguese Creoles with some even considered themselves as Portuguese-Eurasians. Otherwise, the Dutch-Eurasians would maintain their Dutch heritage and remain as Protestant. For the two groups of Dutch-Eurasians, they would later found their way to Singapore.

Books

  • Boxer, Charles Ralph. (1947). The Topasses of Timor. Amsterdam: Indisch Instituut. Call No.: RCLOS 991.4 BOX [RFL]

  • De Witt, Dennis. (2006). Reconnecting through our roots. Petaling Jaya, Selangor: D. De Witt. Call No.: RSING 959.5004393 DEW

    This book constitutes one of the very few publications to showcase the history, culture and heritage of the community of Dutch descendants in Malaysia. It also serves to highlight the continued existence of the Dutch descendants in Malaysia, as well as their ancestral connection to other similar communities from South Africa, Sri Lanka and Indonesia.

  • De Witt, Dennis. (2007). History of the Dutch in Malaysia. Selangor, Malaysia: Nutmeg Publications. Call No.: RSING 959.5004393 DEW

    Published as a contribution by the Malaysian Dutch descendants to commemorate Malaysia's 50 years of independence, the theme of my book focuses on the mutual heritage shared between Malaysia and the Netherlands. It also tells about ties of friendship, diplomacy and commerce shared between the Dutch and the Malays that goes all the way back to their first contact in 1602 at Batu Sawar, Johor. The book includes a history of the Netherlands which lead to the founding of the Dutch East India Company; the first contact between the Dutch and the Malays in Johor; capture of Malacca, relationships between the Protestant Dutch and the Roman Catholic Portuguese-Eurasians in Dutch Malacca; their attempts to enhance trade, maintain diplomacy and create an equilibrium of power in the Straits; as well as an insight to the Dutch Admirals, Burghers, Governors and their administrative ranks in shaping Malaysia's history.

  • Hardy, T. J. (Ed.). (1899). Catalogue of church records, Malacca 1642-1898. Singapore: Govt. Print. Off. Call No.: RRARE, RDTYS 275.953 HAR. Microfilm No.: NL2769

  • Jacobs, E. M. (2006). Merchant in Asia: The Trade of the Dutch East India Company. Leiden : CNWS Publications. Call No.: RSING 382.0949205 JAC

  • Muller, J. B. (2006). The Burghers. Colombo: Wimal Enterprises. Call no.: R 305.891413 MUL

  •  Schenkhuizen, Marguérite. (1993). Memoirs of an Indo woman: twentieth century life in the East Indies and abroad. Athens, Ohio: Ohio University Centre for International Studies. Call No.: RSING 959.8004042 SCH

    The memoirs of Marguerite Schenkhuizen provide an overview of practically the whole of the twentieth century as experienced by persons of mixed Dutch and Indonesian ancestry who lived in the former Dutch East Indies. The memoirs provide vignettes of Indonesian life, both rural and urban, as seen through the eyes of the author first as a girl, then as a wife separated from her husband during the Japanese occupation, finally as an immigrant to the United States after World War II. This self-portrait gives glimpses of the life of Indos from inside their society, glimpses that are valuable for their descendants as well as for outsiders.

  • Taylor, Jean Gelman .(1983). The social world of Batavia: European and Eurasian in Dutch Asia. Madison, Wis.: University of Wisconsin Press. Call No.: RSING 959.82 TAY

    In the 17th century, the Dutch established a trading base at the Indonesian site of Jacarta. What began as a minor colonial outpost under the name Batavia would become, over the next three centuries, the flourishing economic and political nucleus of the Dutch Asian Empire. In this pioneering study, Jean Gelman Taylor offers a comprehensive analysis of Batavia’s extraordinary social world such as its marriage patterns, religious and social organizations and economic interests. With an emphasis on the urban ruling elite, she argues that Europeans and Asians alike were profoundly altered by their merging, resulting in a distinctive hybrid, Indo-Dutch culture.

  • Taylor, Jean Stewart. (1978). The social world of Batavia: a history of Mestizo culture in Dutch Asia. Ann Arbor, Mich.: University Microfilms International. Call No.: RCLOS 959.802 TAY

  • Van Der Veur, Paul Willem. (1971). The Eurasians of Indonesia; a political-historical bibliography. Ithaca, N.Y.: Modern Indonesia Project, Cornell University. Call No.: RCLOS 016.3014511040598 VAN

  • Veur, Paul Willen van der. (1995). Introduction to a socio-political study of the Eurasians of Indonesia. Ann Arbor, Mich.: University Microfilms International. Call No.: RCLOS 301.45110420598 VEU

Articles

  • Baxter, I. A. (1983). Dutch records from Malacca in the India Office Records. Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, Vol. 56, No. 2. Call No.: RCLOS 959.5 JMBRAS year 1989-1984.

    A brief overview of the resources from the Dutch Reformed Church in Malacca found at the National Archives of Malaysia. Unfortunately, out of Hardy’s 35 volumes he described in “Catalogue of church records, Malacca 1642 – 1898” only 14 volumes extending to 1825 from the original set studied by Hardy exist. They include baptismal registers, proceedings of the Church Council, financial records and miscellaneous resources. There are also the marriage and burial registers of the Roman Catholic St. Peter’s Church of Malacca. Listings of related resources added from the National Archives of the Netherlands in 1919 are also included.

  • Van der Veur, Paul W. (Oct 1968). Cultural Aspects of the Eurasian Community in Indonesian Colonial Society. Indonesia, No. 6, pp. 38-53. From JSTORDatabase.

    This article discusses the European ancestries and the culture of the Eurasians in Indonesia. It traces the heritage of the Indonesian-Eurasian community to the Dutch as well as other nationalities such as the British, German and even Belgian. The article also gives examples of the some of the cultural practices that the Eurasians followed in Indonesia.

  • Verhoeven, F.R.J. (1964). The Lost Archives of Dutch Malacca, 1641-1824. Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, Vol. 37, No. 2. Call No.: RCLOS 959.5 JMBRAS year 1964

  • Wertheim, W. F. (Sept. 1947). The Indo-European Problem in Indonesia. Pacific Affairs, Vol. 20, No. 3, pp. 290-298. From JSTOR Database.

Eurasians of British Descent

The term "Eurasians"

The term “Eurasian” was coined by the British. It is said to be used around 1820 to describe the people of European-Asian mixed blood descent. Prior to then, the group was referred to by the British as Anglo-Indians, Indon-Britons or even Christian natives. Under the new definition, the Eurasian group was assigned to a social status that was between the Europeans at the top and the remaining Asian masses. The term was regarded as derogatory in India and was rejected flatly. However, it gained currency in the Far East and Southeast Asia, including Singapore and Malaya.

References

Daus, Ronald. (1989). Portuguese Eurasian communities in Southeast Asia. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.

Hawes, Christopher J. (1996). Poor relations: the making of a Eurasian community in British India, 1773-1833. Richmond, Surrey: Curzon Press.

English Surnames

In Britain, hereditary surnames were introduced by the Norman barons after their conquest of Britain in 1066 and the 1086 Domesday survey. However, the practice spread slowly. Among the feudal nobility and gentry, hereditary surnames were adopted at a much faster pace. One reason was because they could be used to maintain their hereditary rights to the lands and titles they held, a practice that the Normans had been following in France even before they came to Britain.

As for the commoners, it was sufficient for them to refer to each other by a personal name or nickname as their communities were still small. But as the population increased, it gradually became necessary for the commoners to include identifiers in their names to set themselves apart. The sources for these identifiers were endless. They could come from the person’s trades, physical attributes and place of origin thus leading to names such as John the butcher, William the short or Henry from Sutton. It was also often that patronymics, the using of the father’s given name as the child’s last name, were used. For example, John, the son of William, would be John Williamson or Williams.

The identifying names were not fixed and they were often changed or dropped at will. For example, John the butcher may become John the carpenter after switching trades. It was only in 1538 during the reign of Henry VIII after the enactment of the Registration Act requiring people to record a permanent surname in Church registers for births, marriage and deaths that commoners adopted fixed hereditary surnames. However, as standardised spelling for both surnames and forenames did not arrive until the 19th century, some surnames underwent some variations. For instance, Thacker, Thackery and Thackwray are variation of Thatcher, a trade-related surname. In England alone there are around 45,000 different surnames, each with a history behind it.

Below are some Eurasian families in Singapore with English names:

  • Leicester

  • Clarke

  • Richards

  • Scully

  • Stewart

  • Moss

  • Angus

  • Woodford

  • Traill

  • Clunies-Ross

  • Lewis

  • Wheatley

  • Norris

  • Armstrong

  • Houghton

  • Shepherdson

  • Shelley

  • Blake

  • O'Hara

  • Shears

  • Baker

Source: Braga-Blake, Myrna & Ebert-Oehlers, Ann. (1992). Singapore Eurasians: Memories and hopes. Singapore: Times Editions.

British Roots

When the British began to make their presence felt in the region towards the end of the 18th century, many of them started families in India and the Malay Archipelago with local or Portuguese-descended women thus giving rise to Eurasian families with British heritage (including the Irish, Welsh and Scots). Among the earliest were the British-Eurasian families originated in India and Ceylon as well as in Bencoolen. The offspring of the British-Eurasians in Bencoolen were particularly noteworthy because they represented the earliest Eurasian families in Singapore. Among those were the names Leicester, Nicholson, Angus and Perreau. Some of the Singapore-Eurasian family names such as Cornelius, Clarke, Shepherdson, and Oliveiro could also trace their roots to the British colonies of Penang and Malacca, while others like Trails to Burma, Siam and Indo-China. In terms of language and culture, the British had the most influence on the Singapore-Eurasian community. But most of all, the British were the ones that introduced the term “Eurasian” in the 1820s to describe people of European-Asian mixed blood. The term was also used to classify and position the progeny of European-Asian intermarriages as British subjects that were in between the Europeans and the Asian en masse. In India, the term Eurasian was rejected by the Anglo-Indians outright but it gained traction in Southeast Asia and the Far East.

Books

  • Brendon, Vyvyen. (2006). Children of the Raj. London: Phoenix.

  • Call No.: R 954.00421 BRE

  • Drawing on memoirs, journals, and oral testimonies, the book conjures up the brilliant scenes and exotic atmosphere of the Anglo-Indians through the rich narratives of the children themselves. Here are accounts of journeys across perilous seas and the heartache of long family separations, as children were banished to British boarding schools and grim holiday homes.

  • Crabb, Henry C. (1960). Malaya's Eurasians: An opinion. Singapore: Published by D. Moore for Eastern Universities Press. Call No.: RCLOS 301.451 CRA

  • De Bierre, Julia. (2006). Penang: through gilded doors. Penang, Malaysia: Areca Books. Call No.: RSING 959.51 DEB

    Although it contains little information about Eurasians in Penang, this book reveals that the Eurasians were among the earliest residents in Penang. They came as early as 1786 at Francis Light’s invitation from Siam and Dutch-controlled Malacca where they were victims of religious prosecution. The first Penang-Eurasians were led by Roman Catholic Bishop Garnualt and they settled around what would become Bishop Street.

  • Gist, Noel Pitts. (1973). Marginality and identity; Anglo-Indians as a racially-mixed minority in India. Leiden: E. J. Brill. Call No.: RU 301.4511042054 GIS

  • Hawes, Christopher J. (1996). Poor relations: the making of a Eurasian community in British India, 1773-1833. Richmond, Surrey: Curzon Press. Call No.: R 954.09 HAW

  • Hussin, Nordin. (2007). Trade and Society in the Straits of Melaka: Dutch Melaka and English Penang, 1730-1830. Singapore: NUS Press; Copenhagen: NIAS. Call No.: RSING 959.503 NOR

  • Koop, John Clement. (1960). The Eurasian population in Burma. New Haven, Conn.: Southeast Asia Studies, Yale University. Call No.: RU 301.45110420591 KOO

  • Lawson, Philip. (1993). The East India Company: A History, 1600-1857. Harlow: Longman.

    This book provides short history of the British East India Company. It covers the Company's entire history from its foundation through to its demise after the Indian Mutiny in 1857, paying particular attention to the Company's important but often neglected early years. An important contribution to both Anglo-Indian and imperial historiography, it also reflects the very lively state of scholarship in both fields today. Call No.: RU 382.095400601 LAW

  • Lee, Vicky. (2004). Being Eurasian: memories across racial divides. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press. Call No.: English 305.89505125 LEE

  • Mallampalli, Chandra. (2011). Race, religion, and law in colonial India: Trials of an interracial family. Cambridge; New York : Cambridge University Press. Call No.: RBUS 346.5487052 MAL

    This book explores such questions by examining the intriguing story of an interracial family who lived in southern India in the mid-nineteenth century. The family, which consisted of two untouchable brothers, both of whom married Eurasian women, became wealthy as distillers in the local community. When one brother died, a dispute arose between his wife and brother over family assets, which resulted in a landmark court case, Abraham v. Abraham.

  • Stark, Herbert Alick. (1936). Hostages to India: The life story of the Anglo-Indian race. Calcutta: The Star printing works. Call No.: RU 954.00421 STA

    This book portrays the history of and presents a historical reconstruction of the Anglo Indian community. It is a work on Anglo Indians from their darkest to finest hour. The book describes the thriving and vibrant Anglo Indian community and their subsequent impoverishment due to various administrative acts by the East India Company who saw Anglo Indian success as a threat. It chronicles the various measures the community took to obtain justice from England by sending emissaries from India to lobby parliament.

Articles

  • Allard, E. (Dec, 1964). Social Organisation of Eurasians in the Malaya Federation. Current Anthropology, Vol. 5, No. 5, p. 422. From Database Name: JSTOR

    This article provides a brief account of the Eurasian community in Malaysia. In the process, it identifies that the first Eurasian sub-group in Malaysia was the Portuguese-Eurasians in Malacca and highlights that the Dutch-Eurasians were totally submerged into the Portuguese group even though the Dutch came later than the Portuguese.

  • Blunt, Alison (Autumn, 2002). Land of Our Mothers': Home, Identity, and Nationality for Anglo-Indians in British India, 1919-1947. History Workshop Journal, No. 54, pp. 49-72. From Database Name: JSTO 

  • MacFarlane, Eileen W. Erlanson (Sept-Oct 1942). Blood Groups of Eurasians and Parsees in Calcutta. The American Naturalistm, Vol. 76, No. 766, pp. 520-526. From Database Name: JSTOR

    This article outlines the racial and historic origins of the Eurasians in India or the Anglo-Indians. By studying the different blood groups within a selected pool of Eurasians, this article also traces the Portuguese, Dutch, French and British ancestries of the Eurasians in India.

  • Tait, P. M. (Sept, 1864). On the Mortality of Eurasians. Journal of the Statistical Society of London, Vol. 27, No. 3, pp. 324-356. From Database Name: JSTOR

    This article examines the mortality amongst the members of the Eurasian community in India. In the process, the article identifies the different European ancestries of the Eurasian community. It also narrates how the Eurasian community of different European background were established in India.

Eurasians of other European Groups

Surnames from other European Groups

When it comes to tracing family history, one of the first sources to consult is the registry for births, marriage and deaths. Not only the registry provides vital information such as names, dates and places, it also allows one to trace his or her lineage through surnames. However, it is important to note that most European families, except the nobilities or land-owning gentry, did not have fixed surnames until the use and registry of surnames was introduced. Prior to then, people referred to each other by a personal name or nicknames. As the population increased, they began to include names in addition to their given names as identifiers.

One of the most common methods these identifying names were constructed was through patronymics where a personal name was based on the name of one's father. For example, John, the son of William, would be John Williamson or Williams. In addition, identifying names could derive from various sources such as occupation, physical attributes and the individual’s place of origin. As a result, European names have prepositions. For instance, the Dutch names have “van”, “van der”, or “de”, while the Portuguese have “da”, “das” or “dos”.

With the advent of the registry of surnames, European families started to use these identifying names as their hereditary surnames. As a result, the process of tracing one’s surname is not as straightforward as one can imagine. In fact, as the individual goes back in time, he or she will discover the rich history behind it.

Below are some Eurasian families in Singapore with names from different European groups other than the Portuguese, Dutch and British:

  • Oehlers (German)

  • Baumgarten (German)

  • Neubronner (German)

  • Langes (Danish)

  • Jalleh (French)

 

References

Khoo, Salma Nasution. (2006). More than merchants: A History of the German-speaking Community in Penang, 1800s-1940s. Pulau Pinang: Areca Books.

Other European Groups

Besides the Portuguese, Dutch and British, the Singapore-Eurasian community could also trace their heritage to the other European groups such as the French, German, Spanish and Danish that had either established colonies or had commercial interests in the Far East region. Some of the them, particularly the Germans, arrived at the Far East as soldiers employed by the Dutch. Stationing in places such as Malacca, the Germans assimilated with the Dutch and Dutch-Eurasian community. This trend was also repeated in the British colonies in the East and the British Straits Settlements.

Books

Geschichte der German Association (History of the German Association). The German Club.

The history of the German community in Singapore is traced beginning with the earliest Teutonia Club founded in 1856 and continuing into the 21st century with various locations for the German Club described and illustrated with photographs (in German)

Khoo, Salma Nasution. (2006). More than merchants: A History of the German-speaking Community in Penang, 1800s-1940s. Pulau Pinang: Areca Books. all No.: RSING 305.73105951 KHO

The Germans moved to Penang in the Straits Settlements, drawn by business opportunities as entrepreneurs or as part of larger conglomerates. Their life and contributions are examined with accompanying photographs and illustrations until the difficult period of World War II. Chapters on German writers resident in Penang, a profile of Charles Ernest Tardy the patriarch of the Eurasian Karl family and the German trade expand on individuals involved in the community. A useful bibliography is appended.

Pilon, Maxime & Weiler, Danièle. (2011). The French in Singapore: An illustrated history, 1819-today. Singapore: Editions Didier Millet. all No.: RSING 305.84105957 PIL

Since Singapore’s founding in 1819, missionaries, merchants, planters and other French pioneers have come to the fledgling island port and contributed to its economic, educational and cultural development. This book documents the legacy of the French community and their contributions in Singapore. Various personalities featured include J. Casteleyns (who built the first hostelry in 1857, the Hotel de l’Europe), Father Jean-Marie Beurel (who constructed the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd and St Joseph’s Institution in 1839) and Alfred Clouët (who started the well-known Ayam Brand canned sardines business).

Conducting Family History Search on Singapore-Eurasians

In general, these resources are useful to delve into for family history research on Singapore-Eurasians.

  • Births, deaths and marriages records

  • Church records

  • School records

  • Clubs and association records

  • Government records

  • Immigration and shipping records

  • Land records and maps

  • Newspapers

  • Secondary resources such as books, biographies and articles

How these records are used by the featured families in their family history research is largely dependent on their ethnic and religious background. For instance, to trace vital statistics such as birth, death and marriage dates of family members, a Eurasian family, which is of European descent and often of Christian denomination, may start off with church records.

In addition, as one of the primary goals of family history research is to trace their ancestors back to the country of origins, it is often that such research would span beyond the borders of Singapore. For example, since the Eurasians carry a pedigree of European and Asian, their origins can be traced to Europeans who migrated en masse to Singapore from Europe as well as the various European settlements in the region such as Malacca, Goa, Ceylon, Bencoolen, Macao and Penang in the 19th century. The sources from which European names are derived are almost endless. It could originate from nicknames, physical attributes, counties, trades, heraldic charges and almost every object known to mankind. So for a Eurasian to trace his or her family tree, the person needs to look at all these possibilities in order to recognise their ancestors.

To have a general idea on how to build a Eurasian family tree, the following books from the National Library are a good start collection.

Extensive details of branch lines, personalities and research strategies in developing the Shepherdson family tree. Begins chronologically with the first known Shepherdson from England, William who married in 1714. The publication also highlights the search strategies used and the experiences gained in researching their genealogy.

Highlights of the Scully and de Souza family told through anecdotes and recollections with many family photographs.

Strategies to researching a local family tree using both traditional and modern tools, including the internet and DNA testing.

Birth, Marriage and Death Records

Registry of Marriage (ROM) Certificates and Notices, 1859-1986

These are registers of civil and Christian marriages that took place from 1859 to 1986. Information recorded includes personal particulars of the bride and groom, their fathers, their religion, the marriage date, etc. Available in microfilm at National Archives of Singapore

Registry of Births and Deaths (RBD) Birth Certificates, 1938-1984

These are registers that contain information on the newborn such as the date of birth, the place of birth, name of the newborn, names of the parents and the informant, etc. These registers were recorded according to the various centres of registrations. They include City Council Birth Registration, Kandang Kerbau Maternity Hospital, Royal Air Force hospitals, Changi and other hosptials, police stations and constable stations. There is also a register of late registrations.

Available in microfilm at National Archives of Singapore

Registry of Births and Deaths (RBD) Death Certificates, 1872-1968

These certificates provide details of the deceased and the place of registration. They include the Registry of Birth and Deaths, police stations and hospitals. Still birth were also part of this registry.

Available in microfilm at National Archives of Singapore

Ministry of Health (MOH) Cemeteries Burial Registers, 1860s-1940s

This collection consists of burial registers of Christian cemeteries. They provide information such as the name of the deceased, date of death, burial, etc.

Available in microfilm at National Archives of Singapore

Registry of Births and Deaths (RBD) Adopted Children Registers, 1940-1966

These registers provide details of the adoption such as the name of the child, sex, adoption date, date and place of birth of the child, and registration number. They also contain the name, address and occupation of the adoptive parent and court description which made the order.

Available in microfilm at National Archives of Singapore

Government Records and Business Directories

Apart from records that are related to births, marriages and deaths, names can also be obtained from publications produced by the Straits Settlements government given that the person had worked in the government. In these publications, it is possible to find the person’s name, the government department that he or she worked in, and in some cases the salary he or she drew. Besides this, if your ancestors were merchants or businessmen, there is a good chance that they would be listed in a business directory. The earliest Singapore business directory was published in 1846 as Singapore Almanack, Calendar and Directory and the title varies over the years. Below are some of these publications in the library’s collection.

Government Directories

  • Straits Settlements, Statistical Office. (1870-1946). Blue book for the year. Singapore: Govt. Print. Off. Call No.: RARE 315.957 SSBB. Microfilm No.: NL30780; NL30782; NL30783; NL30784, NL1156

This series includes the schedule of taxes, duties, fees and all other sources of revenue/expenditure of the Straits Settlements government. Also included in the series are schedule of promulgated laws, proclamations and orders in council as well as the list of Executive and Legislative Council members, list of officers in civil establishment including salary, date of appointment and other important details and list of pensioners.

  • The Straits Settlements Civil Service List. (1896-1933). Singapore: Government Printing Office. Call No.: RARE 354.595002 SSCSL. Microfilm No.: NL 5821, NL 5822, NL 25422

  • The Malayan Civil List, 1925-1940. (1925-1940). Singapore: Printed at the G.P.O. Call No.: RARE 354.595002 MCL. Microfilm No.: NL 9781, NL 9782, NL 9783, NL 9784

  • Establishments. (1888-1938). Singapore: Printed at the Govt. Print. Off. Call No.: RARE 351.2 STR (1888-1938); RCLOS 351.2 SIN (1948-1952). Microfilm No.: NL 7156, NL 5130, NL 8826-NL8828, NL8831, NL8834, NL 5131-NL 5133, NL 7922

Apart from the Blue Book and Civil Service Establishment lists shown above, Government Gazettes are another information source that contains the appointments of public officers, particularly those that held executive positions in the government. The Straits Settlements Government Gazette also provides names of those who were qualified and liable to serve as jurors in the settlement. This list of jurors includes the names of a number of Chinese, Malays, Eurasians, Indians and other non-European residents. Each name is followed by the occupation, and employer's company name, as well as the juror's place of residence.

Government Records

Registry of Land Titles and Deeds Records, 1848-1986

The Registry of Land Titles and Deeds is the land registration authority which records all recordable transactions affecting land. This series, among other things, consist all recorded applications for certificates of title, substitute certificates of title, vestings of acquired land, changes/corrections of names, caveats lodged and land deeds entries.

Available in microfilm at National Archives of Singapore

Telecommunications Authority of Singapore Directories and Files, 1927-1978

These are telephone directories of Singapore of various years. They contain names and the telephone number belonging to the person.

Available in microfilm at National Archives of Singapore

Business Directories

Singapore and Malaysia Directory, 1949-2011

Church Records and Directories

Church Directory

There are currently more than 500 churches of all Christian denomiation in Singapore. To obtain the listing of all these churches, users can consult the church directory compiled by the National Council of Churches of Singapore listed below.

A guide to churches and Christian organisations in Singapore. (2011). Singapore: National Council of Churches of Singapore. Call No.: RSING 280.0255957 GUI

Alternatively, you can also visit the main websites of the various Christian denominations and churches for more information on the respective churches they are seeking. Some of the major ones are listed below:

  • Archdiocese of Singapore (Roman Catholic)

  • Diocese of Singapore (Anglican)

  • Methodist Church of Singapore

  • Presbyterian Church in Singapore

  • Lutheran Church in Singapore

Roman Catholic Church Records

Church records are another important source of information for genealogy research. The main types of information you can get from these records are baptism, marriage and death registrations. As Eurasians are mostly Roman Catholics, they should be able to find information on their ancestors in records from the different Roman Catholic churches in Singapore. These records are currently housed in the National Archives of Singapore. The Archives also has records of churches from other Christian denominations including the Anglican, Methodist and Presbyterian. Some of the church records, especially those from the earliest churches in Singapore which were established in the 1800s and early 1900s, are listed below. Users are able to search for more church records using the National Archives of Singapore online catalogue (nas.gov.sg/archivesonline).

Cathedral of the Good Shepherd

Baptism registers, 1830s-1980s | Microfilm No.: NAA 001, NAA 002, NAA 003

Marriage registers, 1850s-1980s | Microfilm No.: NAA 004, NAA 005

Death registers, 1850s-1980s | Microfilm No.: NAA 005

 

Church of St. Joseph (Portuguese Mission), Waterloo Street

Baptism registers, 1840s-1960s | Microfilm No.: NAA 008, NAA 009, NAA 010

Marriage registers, 1840s-1970s | Microfilm No.: NAA 010, NAA 011, NAA 012

Death registers, 1840-1950s | Microfilm No.: NAA 011, NAA 012

 

Church of Saints Peter & Paul, Queen Street

Baptism registers, 1870s-1960s | Microfilm No.: NA 029, NA 030, NA 031

Marriage registers, 1870s-1960s | Microfilm No.: NA 033

Death registers, 1870s-1960s | Microfilm No.: NA 032

Registers of Baptism, Death and Confirmation at Fujigo, or Bahau settlement at Negri Sembilan

Microfilm No.: NA 033

 

Church of Our Lady of Lourdes

Baptism registers, 1890s-1950s | Microfilm No.: NA 013, NA 014

Marriage registers, 1890s-1970s | Microfilm No.: NA 014

Death registers, 1890s-1920s | Microfilm No.: NA 014

 

Church of the Holy Family, Katong

Baptism registers, 1930s-1970s | Microfilm No.: NA 037

Marriage registers, 1930s-1970s | Microfilm No.: NA 038

Death registers, 1930s-1920s | Microfilm No.: NA 038

 

Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Serangoon

Baptism registers, 1950s-1980s | Microfilm No.: NL 1950

 

Church of Saint Francis Xavier, Serangoon

Baptism registers, 1950s-1970s | Microfilm No.: NA 203

Marriage registers, 1950s-1970s | Microfilm No.: NA 203

Death registers, 1960-1970s | Microfilm No.: NA 203

 

Church of Nativity of Our Lady (now Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary), Serangoon

Baptism registers, 1850s-1970s | Microfilm No.: NA 025, NA 026, NA 027 |

Marriage registers, 1890s-1970s | Microfilm No.: NA 229

Death registers, 1920s-1970s | Microfilm No.: NA 026

 

Church of St. Teresa

Baptism registers, 1920s-1970s | Microfilm No.: NA 039

Marriage registers, 1940s-1970s | Microfilm No.: NA 040

Death registers, 1930s-1970s | Microfilm No.: NA 039

Confirmation registers, 1920s-1970s | Microfilm No.: NA 039

 

Other Christian Denominations

St Andrew’s Cathedral (Anglican)

Baptism registers, 1823-1981. Microfilm No.: NA 001, NA 1935

Marriage registers, 1823-1971. Microfilm No.: NA 003, NA 004, NA 1936

Death registers, 1823-1976. Microfilm No.: NA 001, NA 002, NA 1935

 

St Hilda’s Church (Anglican)

Baptism registers, 1941-1974. Microfilm No.: NA 059

Marriage registers, 1941-1974. Microfilm No.: NA 059

Death registers, 1943-1974. Microfilm No.: NA 059

 

Church of Our Saviour (Anglican)

Baptism registers, 1953-1992. Microfilm No.: NA 191, NA 2307

Marriage registers, 1963-1997. Microfilm No.: NA 191, NA 2308

Death registers, 1968-1997. Microfilm No.: NA 191, NA 2308

 

Wesley Methodist Church (Methodist)

Baptism registers, 1927-1947. Microfilm No.: NA 005

Marriage registers, 1951-1972. Microfilm No.: NA 005, NA 006

 

Tamil Methodist Church (Methodist)

Baptism registers, 1885-1938. Microfilm No.: NA 249

Marriage registers, 1885-1961. Microfilm No.: NA 249

Death registers, 1885-1938. Microfilm No.: NA 249

 

Orchard Road Presbyterian Church (Presbyterian)

Baptism registers, 1946-1971. Microfilm No.: NA 034

Marriage registers, 1946-1973. Microfilm No.: NA 034Education and School Records

Church Publications

Besides the church records above, churches in Singapore also released many commemorative publications during post-independence period to celebrate the long history of their establishments in Singapore. Some of these publications found in our collections are stated below. They may contain information that is relevant to family history research especially if the family attended these churches.

Educational Records

Other than birth, marriage and death records, school records and yearbooks are also a valuable source of material for genealogy research. Below are some resources that can be found in the collections of the National Archives of Singapore and the National Library. The schools covered in this section are mostly English missionary or government schools that are located near the first Eurasian enclave or Waterloo Street area.

Admission and Attendance Registers and School Records, 1888-1985

The series consists of admission and attendance registers and other school records. The admission registers contain students’ particulars (e.g. sex, date and place of birth, race, admission date, etc.). Attendance registers contain almost similar information except they include records of daily attendance, school fee paid, summary of students’ roll, etc. Available in microfilm at National Archives of Singapore

Admission and Attendance Registers and School Records, 1888-1985

The series consists of admission and attendance registers and other school records. The admission registers contain students’ particulars (e.g. sex, date and place of birth, race, admission date, etc.). Attendance registers contain almost similar information except they include records of daily attendance, school fee paid, summary of students’ roll, etc. Available in microfilm at National Archives of Singapore

Institute of Education Administrative Files, 1950-1970

This series contains administrative records of the Teachers' Training College (known as Institute of Education today). Among other things, the records consist of staff appointments, departmental scholarships, annual reports and student movements. Available in microfilm at National Archives of Singapore

People’s Association Kindergarten Registers, 1964-1982

This series consists of registers of People's Association (PA) kindergarten. Each registry contains information of the pupils and their parents/guardians. The later years registries document each pupil's health, cleaniness and conduct in class. Available in microfilm at National Archives of Singapore

School Yearbooks and Magazines

The following are school records that are in the library's collection. They are mostly school magazines and souvenir publications. The schools that are selected below are mostly schools that were attended by Eurasians during the colonial period.

Clubs and Associations Records

The Eurasian Association

The Eurasian Association was founded in 1919. Since then, the Association had always been at the forefront of the Eurasian community in Singapore, looking after their economic and social interests. Today, the mission of the Association remains relatively unchanged. It continues to act as a platform to enrich the cohesiveness of the Eurasian community as well as to integrate the community into the larger multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural of the Singapore society.

Clubs and associations related to the Eurasian community continued to be active in pre and post-independence Singapore. Among the three main Eurasian clubs, two of them – the Singapore Recreation Club and the Girls’ Sports Club – underwent major changes including allowing the admission of non-Eurasian members. Despite the liberalisation effort, these clubs remained popular among the Eurasians. The overall experience on the changes these clubs and associations underwent and its impact on the Eurasian community during the pre and post-independence periods are captured in the publications below.

Associations and Clubs Records

Singapore Recreation Club

Annual Reports, Membership lists (1938-1984) | Microfilm No.: NA 2159

Annual Reports (1986, 1987, 1994, 2008)| Call No.: RCLOS/RSING 796.0605957 SRCAR

Eurasian Association

Annual Reports (2005, 2009)| Call No.: RSING/RCLOS 301.451104205957 EASAR

EA news (1991, 1993, 1997, 1998) Call No.: RSING 305.80405957 EAN

Girls’ Sports Club

Annual Reports (1933-1985) | Microfilm No.: NA 1172

Singapore Volunteer Corps

Proposed club for Eurasian members (1924) | Microfilm No.: HDB 1001

Yearbooks (1930-1937) | Microfilm No.: NL 28415. Call No.: RARE 355.2236205 SSVFYB

Annual report (1938) | Microfilm No.: NL9936. Call No.: RARE 355.232 STR

Eurasian Clubs and Associations Publications

Professional Clubs and Associations

Besides using the types of record above, it is also possible to find names through records of trade and professional associations as well as other secular social clubs and unions. Usually, these records consist of minutes of council meetings and the annual general meetings, circulars, annual reports and statements of accounts. But some of them have membership list or membership applications thus proving to be important sources of names. Below are some associations and organisations that Eurasians may be associated with that can be accessed via microfilm at the National Archives of Singapore.

  • Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society of Singapore records, 1972-1990

  • The Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore records, 1979-1990

  • Institute of Internal Auditors Inc (Singapore Chapter) records, 1976-1986

  • Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Singapore records, 1963-1989

  • National Theatre Club files, 1967-1985

  • Republic of Singapore Flying Club files, 1952-1985

  • Singapore Children’s Society records, 1953-1975

  • Singapore Cricket Club records, 1956-1974

  • Singapore Port Workers’ Union files, 1976-1983

  • Singapore Teachers’ Union files, 1946-1979

  • Public Utilities Board Daily-rated Employees’ Union files, 1979-1982

  • Pioneer Industries’ Employees’ Union files, 1975-1980

Ship Registers and Passenger Lists

Passenger lists are records of people travelling on a ship from one place to another. Passenger lists usually offer important data such as the names of passengers, place of embarkation, age and destination. As most Singaporeans have ancestors who arrived here in the 1800s or later, these lists will be helpful in tracing ancestors. Currently, passenger lists and ships registers could be obtained from the resources below.

Ships Registers and Passengers Lists

  • Master Attendant’s Office Registry of British Ships and Ships Registers, 1866-1957

This series is currently located at the National Archives of Singapore. It consists of a wide range of subjects covering the registry of British ships, register of British and foreign ships, Master Attendant’s Colony Account Book, etc. Contents such as ships’ particulars and particulars of ship owners are useful records for genealogy research as it provides the arrival dates of ships that stopped in Singapore. However, the records do not contain the passenger list. The list can only be found in newspapers.

Available in microfilm at National Archives of Singapore

  • The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser, 1835-1942

The Singapore Free Press & Mercantile Advertiser was a four-page weekly, with a page of commercial and shipping news that catered to the colony's burgeoning commercial enterprise. Backed by private merchants and lawyers, it earned a reputation of being a reliable, sober and moderate journal. One of the most important information held in this newspapers is the ship passenger arrival lists. Search on the newspaper can be conducted via the library's NewspaperSG online database.

Newspapers

Eurasian Newspapers

In an effort to develop a distinct Eurasian identity, the Eurasian community in Singapore began exploring ways to consolidate its communal bond. Other than forming clubs and associations, the Eurasians also started publishing their own newspapers to develop a voice for the community. Below are the key Eurasian newspapers that were published towards the end of the 19th century. These newspapers carry mostly advertisements of companies owned by Eurasians. They also feature opinion pieces written by Eurasians. Users can access these newspapers via our NewspaperSG online database.

  • The Straits Intelligence (1882-1884)

  • Straits Eurasian Advocate (1888)

  • The Daily Advertiser (1890-1894)

  • Mid-day Herald (1895-1896)

  • Straits Telegraph and Daily Advertiser (1899)

Newspapers are an important source of information for research on 19th and 20th century Singapore, and can be good source of information for genealogy. The types of information you can find in newspapers are:

Marriage notices

Marriage notices contain the names of the bride and groom and the wedding date. They may also include names of other relatives and guests who attended the wedding and other information.

Obituaries

Obituaries are articles that announce an individual’s death. They give vital particulars of the decreased such as names, age, birth and death, funeral date, native place names and names of next-of-kins.

Other Information

Apart from passenger lists and marriage and death notices, other public notices in the newspapers such as government notices as well as news articles can also offer unique information about individuals.

The National Reference Library has a collection of Singapore newspapers dating from the early 1800s. Below is a listing of the major English newspapers available at the National Library.

  • The Singapore Free Press (1925-1962)

  • The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (1835-1942)

  • The Straits Times (1845-present)

  • Singapore Chronicle (1827-1837)

  • Straits Times Overland Journal (1869-1881)

  • Straits Observer (1874-1897)

Eurasians during the Japanese Occupation

The Japanese occupation of Singapore lasted about forty-four months. During this period as well as the months leading up to the invasion and eventual fall of Singapore, the Eurasian community together with other ethnic groups underwent an unnerving wartime experience with the constant fear of internment, torture and even death. Within the Eurasian community, those from the “D” and “G” Company of the Singapore Volunteer Corps and the Singapore Royal Artillery were among the first to experience war. As the war intensified and the Japanese forces moving southwards towards Singapore after landing at Kota Bahru on 8 December 1941, the Singapore Volunteer Corps were mobilised to take part in the defence of Malaya and Singapore. When Singapore fell on 15 February 1942, the volunteer corps, including Eurasian volunteers, was last stationed at Goodwood Park Hotel. By then, many Eurasian volunteers had lost their lives in battle. Many others would succumbed to hunger, sickness and brutality when they were interned as prisoners of war at Changi prison or deported to Thailand to lay the “Death Railway”, the railway line to link peninsular Malaysia and Burma.

The violence and horrors of the Japanese invasion of Malaya and Singapore were not confined to the battlegrounds. Right from the start when the Japanese began their invasion in Malaya, countless air raids were carried out by the Japanese on Singapore which inflicted huge loss of civilian lives. After the fall of Singapore, the Japanese continued to terrorise the civilian population as they tried to weed out anti-Japanese elements within the different ethnic communities in Malaya and Singapore. Because of their European descent, the Japanese thought it was likely that British sympathisers would exist within the Eurasian community. In order to keep the Eurasians in check, the Japanese ordered the appointment of a Eurasian committee. The new committee comprised leading Eurasians like G.E.N Oehlers, H.E. Woodford, W.H. Mosbergen and G. Shelley, and it was tasked by the Japanese to determine the number and particulars of Eurasians residing in Singapore. Subsequently, the entire Singapore-Eurasian community was ordered by the Japanese to assemble on the Padang for mass screening. During the screening, Eurasians who were suspected of involvement in the defence of Malaya and Singapore were detained. Some of them were reported to be executed. Others who were employed in essential services such as the electrical and water departments were ordered to return to their posts. For the rest of the community, they were commanded to return to the livelihood, switch their allegiance to the Japanese government and not to take part in anti-Japanese activities. The Eurasian Association was renamed the Syonan Eurasian Welfare Association (SEWA) and Dr Charles J. P. Paglar was appointed by the Japanese as the President of SEWA with John Bertram van Cuylenburg as the Vice President.

However, not all Japanese officers were notorious. There were some who were sympathetic and took an interest in the welfare of the different communities in Singapore. Mamoru Shonzaki was one such notable who worked with a number of Eurasians including Dr Paglar to look after the Eurasian community in Singapore and in the Bahau settlement in Negri Sembilan. Bahau was a village created by the Japanese for the Eurasians to imitate the Endau Chinese settlement in Johor. Both settlements were part of the larger Japanese attempt to create a string of self-sufficient agricultural settlements to allay the food shortage problem in Singapore. While the Endau was relatively successful, Bahau punctuated with problems including diseases and poor soil and living conditions. As a result, many Eurasians perished in Bahau. Many more would have similar fate if not for the medical care provided by Dr Paglar and other Eurasian doctors like Dr Jock Oehlers and Dr Cuylenburg.

This section provides a list of books and resources that contain general accounts of the Japanese invasion of Malaya and Singapore as well as the Japanese occupation of Singapore. The topics these resources discuss include the disastrous British defence of Malaya and Singapore, the disorganised evacuation of civilians from Singapore and Singapore under the Japanese. Some of the most widely used resources related to this topic are stated below.

References

Braga-Blake, Myrna & Ebert-Oehlers, Ann. (1992). Singapore Eurasians: Memories and hopes. Singapore: Times Editions.

Military Records and Accounts

Singapore Volunteer Corps

The Singapore Volunteer Corps began as the Singapore Volunteer Rifle Corps in 1854, with the support of the Governor, Colonel J. Butterworth. The outbreak of riots between Chinese secret societies in 1854 led to the formation of a volunteer force to booster the internal security of Singapore. The group underwent several reorganisations and was known by various names through its history. In 1965, it was renamed the People's Defence Force. The Eurasians had a company in the Corps. The company was formed in 1901 before it was disbanded in 1909. It was then formed again in 1918. This contingent would take part in the defence of Singapore against the Japanese in 1942 as the "D" Company.

References

Winsley, T. M. (1938). A history of the Singapore Volunteer Corps 1854-1937. Singapore: Govt. Print. Off. Call No.: RCLOS 355.23 WIN. Microfilm No.: NL 9819, NL 25997

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Casualty Database

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission casualty database lists the names and place of commemoration of the 1.7 million men and women of the Commonwealth forces who died during the two world wars. It also records details of the 67,000 Commonwealth civilians who died "as a result of enemy action" in the Second World War. Users are able to search by surname, date, war, rank, regiment, awards or any combination of those criteria.

The Japanese invasion of Malaya and Singapore including the British response is a well researched area, resulting in the production of many resources. The selected resources below cover many topics such as the reasons behind the Japanese invasion, the British defence strategy in Malaya and Singapore, the battle of Singapore and the final days before the British surrendered. For family history research, grasping a general understanding of the Japanese invasion and occupation of Malaya and Singapore is only a part of the research process. To obtain better insights on the wartime experience of the different communities in Singapore, one could delve deeper into the memories collected by families. Such accounts could be acquired through biographies or autobiographies. From these publications, the reader could find names and accounts of soldiers or volunteers including those from the Eurasian community who had fought in Malaya and Singapore as well as names of families who were evacuated days before the fall of Singapore. This is in addition to the many first-person accounts of life during the Japanese Occupation.

Personal Accounts of the War

Books on the Malayan Campaign and Fall of Singapore

Personal Accounts

Besides published resources, personal accounts of the war and the Japanese occupation can also be retrieved from oral history records. The National Archives of Singapore has a large collection of oral history records and they can be located through the Archives’ Oral History Centre database or their publications stated below.

Similar to the other ethnic communities in Singapore, the Eurasian community had a difficult time during the Japanese Occupation. Almost immediately after the British surrendered, the entire community was summoned by the Japanese to undergo mass screening. During the screening, many Eurasians who were suspected to have taken part in the defence of Malaya and Singapore were arrested. As for the rest, they were ordered back to return to their livelihood but under the constant surveillance of the Japanese secret police or the Kempeitai. In 1943, the Japanese decided to set up an agricultural settlement for the Eurasians in Bahau in order to ease the food shortage problem in Singapore. From December 1943 to April 1944, some 2,000 Eurasians left Singapore for Bahau. However, most of the settlers had little knowledge of farming and found life tough at Bahau. Many suffered from malnutrition, as they were unable to make themselves more self-sufficient in food. In addition, they were plagued by malaria and other diseases. It was estimated that some 500 people lost their lives there, including their leader Bishop Devals. The wartime experience of the Eurasians in Singapore and Bahau can be found in the autobiographies and biographies below. They are authored by Eurasians as well as those who had interacted with the Eurasian community during the Japanese Occupation.

Eurasian Accounts

Bahau Settlement

Bahau Settlement was an agricultural settlement set up at Bahau in the Malayan state of Negri Sembilan during the Japanese Occupation. The settlement was set up under a self-sufficiency scheme initiated by the Japanese authorities to ease the food supply problem in Singapore. Under the scheme, Singaporeans were encouraged to resettle outside Singapore, in areas where they could farm and live off the land. The Bahau Settlement was specially set up for Eurasians and Chinese Roman Catholics. It was also known as Fuji-go, which means "Fuji village". Below are some resources that covered this topic.


Birth, Marriage and Death Records of Bahau Settlement

The birth, marriage and death records of Bahau Settlement can be found in the records of the Church of Saints Peter & Paul at Queen Street. Users can access the records via the National Archives of Singapore.

The Rest of the Community

Life during the Japanese occupation was exceptionally difficult. Not only the population in Singapore had to deal with malnourishment, they also lived in constant fear of being arrested by the Japanese. These books provide a good overview on the social conditions during the Japanese occupation of Singapore including the issues and hardships the people faced under the Japanese.

Eurasians in Pre- and Post-Independence Singapore

The Japanese surrendered to the Allied Forces on 15 August 1945 effectively ending the Japanese Occupation of Singapore. A month later, the British returned to Singapore amid a scene of joy and jubilance. This euphoria, however, was short-lived as it was soon overtaken by the reality of reconstructing a post-war Singapore. Some of the immediate problems that the British faced included a thriving black market, a disoriented public service, food shortages and deteriorating infrastructure. They also had to address a rising nationalistic sentiment and the communist threat. To tackle these problems, the British started relooking the way they governed Singapore. Instead of bringing back the administration structure that was in place from 1819 to 1942, the British implemented reforms that would ultimately prepare Singapore for self-government. Notable changes were made in the areas of education, public services and legislature where a sense of belonging and nation-building were instilled. Local officers were also appointed or elected to fill up the positions in these areas.

With their head start in education and fluency in the English language, the Eurasians were among the first local community that the British drew upon to indigenise the civil service. They were also sought after as members of Singapore’s first political parties such as the Progressive Party, the Democratic Party, the Labour Party and the People’s Action Party. This trend continued well into the 1950s and by the time Singapore attained self-government in 1959, there were a number of Eurasians serving in the government. They included Singapore’s first Speaker of Parliament Sir George Edward Noel Oehlers, first head civil service George Edwin Bogaars, the first chairman of Port of Authority of Singapore Stanley Toft Stewart, the first local commissioner of police John Le Cain, and Law Minister Edmund William Barker who was also involved in the crafting of the Proclamation of Singapore hours before Singapore announced its separation from Malaysia on 9 August 1965. After achieving independence, more Eurasians including those aforementioned continued to serve the government taking on roles in agencies such as the Economic Development Board and the Singapore Tourism Board. For instance, Kenneth Michael Bryne was a top civil servant having held many senior positions in the government including chairman of the Singapore Tourism Board and the Central Provident Fund as well as High Commissioner of several countries. Herman Ronald Hochstadt was another top civil servant having served as Deputy Secretary at the Treasury, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Communications and Ministry of Education, Deputy Managing Director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, Chairman of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority board. Hedwig Anuar, on the other hand, served as the director of the National Library from 1964 to 1988.

Besides the government, many Eurasians also made their mark in the professional field in areas such as medicine, research, education, and arts and culture. For example, Ernest Steven Monteiro, who was pro-chancellor of the National University of Singapore, is remembered for his contributions these areas, while Maureen Clarke was well known for her talent in amateur dramatics. Perhaps one of the most prominent Eurasian who excelled in the professional field was Dr Benjamin Henry Shears. Not only he was one of the first locals to be appointed as professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at the University of Malaya in Singapore in the 1950s, Shears was also a founding member of the Academy of Medicine and had contributed significantly to the field of medical research. In 1971, Shears was awarded the highest honour in Singapore when he was appointed the second President of the Republic of Singapore. He held this position for a decade from 1971 to 1981.

As for the rest of the Eurasian community, the period from the end of the Japanese Occupation to the late 1980s was dedicated mostly to rebuilding the Eurasian community bond. After the war, the Eurasians were divided in reactions to the political developments in Singapore as the colony strived towards nationhood. Those who chose to remain loyal to the British opted to leave Singapore for Britain and other Commonwealth countries. For the remaining group who did not emigrate, they remained in Singapore to become Singaporeans eventually. Despite staying on, the Eurasians in Singapore experienced a decline in their communal identity in the 1970s. Partly, this was due to the rise of a non-communal outlook among the Eurasians as they tried to assimilate with other Singaporeans of different ethnic groups. The decline was also attributed to a sense of displacement. After Singapore became an independent nation in 1965, the multi-ethnic presentation of the nation did not include Eurasians as one of the major cultures. Instead, their identity was hidden under the “others” ethnic category which includes the smaller ethnic communities such as the Jews and the Armenians. The decline in the Eurasian identity was evident in terms of membership figures of the Eurasian Association. After reaching a peak of 855 members in 1973, the Association’s membership began to dwindle falling to as low as 91 in 1986. Amid the development within the Eurasian community, the community continued to produce prominent figures such as sportsmen and literary figures who contributed greatly to the nation-building process.

To reverse the downward trend in the Eurasian identity, the Management Committee of the Eurasian Association decided to embark on a massive membership drive in 1989, a year which became known as the year of Eurasian Awakening. Led by a group of younger Eurasians and driven by the determination to rekindle the sense of belonging within the Eurasian community, the Management Committee drove the Eurasian Association membership up to almost 1,000 in less than two years through the introduction of programmes and activities that encourage community bonding. The Eurasian Association’s effort to uplift the Eurasian community was given a boost in 1994 when it was accorded by the Government Self-Help status to act on behalf of the Eurasian community in Singapore.

References

Braga-Blake, Myrna & Ebert-Oehlers, Ann. (1992). Singapore Eurasians: Memories and hopes. Singapore: Times Editions.

Publications on Eurasians

Books on the Eurasians

Capturing the Eurasian Culture

During the post-independence period, the Eurasian community had produced many publications to highlight their identity. These publications vary from general works on the community to biographies or autobiographies. There are also novels and even cookbooks to highlight the culture of the Eurasians. For family history research, these publications are able to provide the researchers an understanding to the social and cultural background of the Eurasians. They are also useful in terms of linking the researchers to other related sources.

 

Cookbooks

Novels

The Eurasian community produced many publications pertaining to their family history. The coverage of these publications usually spanned from the colonial to the present period covering major historical events in Singapore. Some of them even went as far back as the pre-colonial period to provide a narrative of the origins of the Singapore-Eurasian community. These publications provide valuable information for Eurasians to trace their ancestors as many of them contain family trees and names of Eurasian families as well as their cultural heritage. The following titles are some of these publications.

  • Blake, Myrna L. (1973). Kampong Eurasians in Singapore. Singapore: Dept. of Sociology, University of Singapore. Call No.: RCLOS 301.451104205957 BLA. Microfiche No.: NL0034/026

  • Braga-Blake, Myrna & Ebert-Oehlers, Ann. (1992). Singapore Eurasians: Memories and hopes. Singapore: Times Editions. Call No.: RSING 305.80405957 SIN

  • A coffee table piece with short essays on the personalities, lifestyle, culture and families of Singapore Eurasians. The family trees of the Leicester, O'Hara, Cornelius, Oliveiro and Moss in the article "Who's your mother? Who's your father?" by Pat de Silva. Photographs of many other family lines are also appended

  • Carlos, A. (1991). The Eurasians in Singapore. In Makepeace et al. (Eds). One Hundred Years of Singapore. Singapore: Oxford University Press, pp. 363-374. Call No.: RSING 959.57 ONE

  • Harfield, A. G. (1988). Early cemeteries in Singapore. London: British Association for Cemeteries in South Asia. Call No.: RSING 929.5095957 HAR

  • Harfield, A. G. (1979). Fort Canning Cemetery, Singapore. London: British Association for Cemeteries in South Asia. Call No.: RCLOS 929.5095957 HAR. Microfilm No.: NL 17974

  • Kraal, Diane. (2003). Gateway to Eurasian culture. Singapore: Asiapac. Call No.: RSING 305.804 GAT

  • Manley, Iain. (2010). Tales of old Singapore: The glorious past of Asia's greatest emporium. Hong Kong : Earnshaw Books. Call No.: RSING 959.57 MAN

  • Peet, George L. (2009). Rickshaw reporter. Singapore: Marshall Cavendish Editions. Call No.: RSING 070.92 PEE

  • Pereira, Alexius (1997). “The revitalization of Eurasian identity in Singapore”. Southeast Asian Journal of Social Science, Vol. 25, No. 2, pp.7-24. Call No.: RSING 300.5 SAJSS

  • Rappa, Antonio. L. (2000). “Surviving the Politics of Late Modernity: The Eurasian Fringe Community of Singapore”. Southeast Asian Journal of Social Science, Vol. 28, No.1, pp.153-180. Call No.: RSING 300.5 SAJSS

  • Rappa, Nicolette Bernedette. (1998). Inter-ethnic perceptions of the Eurasian and Chinese communities in Singapore. Dept. of Sociology, Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences, National University of Singapore.

  • Thomson, John Turnbull (1865). Some glimpses into life in the Far East. London: Richardson & Company. Call No.: RARE 959 THO

  • Microfilm No.: NL8371, NL25422

  • This book is a recollection of the time the author spent in the Far East 30 years earlier when he was a young man. His description is about what he observed and experienced during his stay mainly in Penang, Singapore and Malacca - the different ethnic groups, their daily lives, food, customs, superstitions and ceremonies.

  • Turnbull, C. M. (1972). The Straits Settlements, 1826-67: Indian presidency to crown colony. London: Athlone Press. Call No.: RSING 959.57 TUR

  • Turnbull, C. M. (2009). A history of modern Singapore, 1819-2005. Singapore: NUS Press. Call No.: RSING 959.57 TUR

  • Willis, Jon. (1983). The Serani and the upper ten: Eurasian ethnicity in Singapore. 111p. Academic exercise - University of New South Wales.

  • Wong, Lai Sim (1962). The Eurasian population of Singapore, 1819-1959. Singapore: Microfilm Service, University of Singapore. Call No.: RCLOS 305.80405957 WON

Biographies/Autobiographies

This resource guide is compiled by Lim Tin Seng. The information in this resource guide is valid as at 2013 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history on the subject. Please contact the National Library for further reading materials on the topic.

All Rights Reserved. National Library Board Singapore 2013.

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