Tag: names

by Len Kenna and Crystal Jordan (Australian Indian Historical Society Inc)

Len Kenna was educated at La Trobe University studying History and Archaeology. He has been interested in things Indian from his childhood when Indian hawkers called at his family home in Hamilton, Victoria. In 2004 Len was contacted by Multicultural Commission Victoria to write a history of Indians in Australia.  This was the first detailed study of Indian history in Australia.

Crystal Jordan assisted Len because she has a keen interest in India. Her father was born in India.  The Australian Indian Historical Society Inc. was formed to research and publish the results of that research and to form a link to the Indian Community.

Len and Crystal have written and published sixteen books on Indians in Australia drawing on official records and primary sources.  One on these books: The History of Sikhs in Australia, has been translated into Punjabi by Dr. Balwant Singh Dhillion of Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, India and has been distributed worldwide.

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To have some understanding of the various names given to the people from the sub-continent it is necessary to understand that India was, and still is, a series of small nation states with their own distinctive culture and religious differences. That distinction has been blurred and made more complicated as a result of wars, foreign invasions, fluid borders and the passing of time.

In addition most early Indian arrivals to Australia were illiterate in English and their native tongue. Most in fact, when they arrived in Australia, could not speak English.

Australians who became acquainted with them, acted on their behalf,wrote letters and assisted in other ways, also had little knowledge of their religious or ethnic backgrounds and many Indian languages do not easily or accurately translate into English. As a result the spelling of names was left to the whim or discretion of the person recording the names.

The first migrants to arrive in Australia in the early nineteenth century were mainly deserters from ships or others who arrived by chance. These would have been mainly Muslims, as Hindus were restricted, although not banned, from travelling over water for religious reasons.  Sikhs came from the Punjab and the Punjab is landlocked which inhibited ocean-going voyages. 

The first major migration into Australia was the cameleers who arrived in the 1860s. They came to Australia as labourers under the archaic Masters and Servants Act, which bound them exclusively to their Master.   These Cameleers came from Punjab, Baluchistan, Sindh, the North West Provinces of India and Afghanistan. They were mainly Muslims but some were Sikhs. They were kept in subjugation, by their Masters: usually their own countrymen.

They were poorly paid, badly exploited and spent long periods in the bush. As a result they were unable to mix with mainstream Australia.  They became known as ‘Afghans’ regardless of their place of origin or their religious or ethnic backgrounds.

The next wave of Indians came arrived in the last decades of the twentieth century between 1880 and 1901. This was the largest migration of self-funded non-Europeans to arrive in Australia until the present time.  This group can be divided into three cohorts, Sikhs who appear to be the largest group, second Muslims and third Hindus. They were all mainly illiterate farmers who came to Australia to increase their family wealth. The exact number of people who arrived at this time is unknown as many landed in ports where there was little or no supervision of arrivals. In many coastal towns in Australia the local Police acted as Customs Officers and were not always present when ships landed with Indian migrants.

Indian arrivals came in three different ways:

1. Their fares and accommodation was paid by family members or people from their village.
2. They worked their way.
3. They jumped ship and were assisted by friends, family members or Indians of the same religious or ethnic background. This group became labourers, farm workers, sugarcane cutters and hawkers etc.

Most Sikhs who came to Australia at this time used the name ‘Singh’ for men and ‘Kaur’ for women and most but not all came from the Punjab.  The name ‘Singh’ usually identifies a man of the Sikh religion regardless as to their place of birth. These men were mistakenly called ‘Hindoos’.

Muslims can also be identified by their names, names such as, Khan, Ali, Mahomed, Mahomet etc. They came from most places in India but in the main they were concentrated along the west coast of India and were called by Australians as ‘Mahommedans’. 

The third group to arrive were Hindus. They were fewer in number and to confuse the identification of Hindus and Sikhs a small number of Hindus also have the name ‘Singh’. Most Hindus who came to Australia in this period came from the Punjab, however, Hindus also came from other parts of India.

Much of the confusion regarding the spelling of names given to people from India was caused by the fact that most Australians had little understanding of India and Indian culture. They spelt Indian names phonetically and placed people into religious groups regardless of the accuracy or geographical place of birth.

For a list of the Indian names in the Victorian CEDT Register Index with their alternate names see the table below.

Here are three examples of how you need alternative names to track these men through the records.

Charlie Argent Singh of Bendigo and Nyah West

The Victorian CEDT Register Index contains information about Charlie Argin Singh, a 61 year old farm labourer from Nyah West who applied for a CEDT in 1933 and this was extended in 1935, 1939 and 1941. Information he provided suggests he was born around 1872 and arrived in Australia around 1897-1898.

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The name ‘Argin’ can also be spelt: Argent and Argen. Searching the Victorian Central Register of Males Prisoners held at the Public Records Office of Victoria (VPRS 515) we find Charlie Argent Singh, an Indian hawker born in 1871, who was convicted of assault in Bendigo and sentenced to six months hard labour in 1910. He was born in 1871 and arrived in Australia in 1897 on the ‘New Guinea’. According to his prison record he was a ‘Hindoo’ and had a wife in India.

Mahomed Gujar of Warrnambool

The Victorian CEDT Register Index contains information about ‘C Mahomed‘ and ‘Mahomed Gujar‘. Mohomed Gujar, a storekeeper and hawker in Warrnambool, was also known as Charlie Mahomed, Googer, Goojer, and Majommed. Further information about Mohamed Gujar can be found on the Australian Indian Historical Society blog here.

Bhugwan Singh and Cabel Singh of Quambatook

The Victorian CEDT Register Index contains information about ‘Bagwan Singh‘, a farmer in Quambatook who appied for a CEDT to travel in 1919 with his business partner, Cabel Singh. They both left in 1919 and returned in 1923 on the same ships. Further information about Bhugwan Singh and Cabel Singh can be found on the Australian Indian Historical Society blog here.

Indian names in the Victorian CEDT Register Index with alternate names

Name in Vic Register Index	Alternate Name
Abdool Curreem	Abdul Curram, Karam, Karem
Acbar Deen	Ackbar Deen
Abdulah Khan	Abdulla Khan, Adulat Khan, Adalat Khan
Ahmed Deem	Ahmed Deen
Alah Dad	Alladad, Alla Daard
Alf Deen	Alf Deen, Alif Deen, Aluf Deen
Ali Ahamed	Ali Ahmed
Ali Bux	Ali Bux Kahn, Bakhsh, Baksch, Buksh
Allie Mahomed	Ali Mahomed  Khan Mahommed/Mahomet
Amad Ali Khan	Ahmed Ali Khan
Ameer Alie Khan	Amir Allie Khan, Amir Ali
Ameer Bux	Amir Bux, Ameer Bakhsh, Ameer Baksch, Ameer Buksh
Aran Singh	Anan Singh, Anant Singh
Argin Singh	Argen Singh, Argent Singh, Charlie Argent Singh
Ata Mahomed	Atta Mahomed/Mohamed
Barghallie Khan	Barg Ali Khan, Bargh Ali, Bargallie, Bargally
Barna Khan	Bunna Khan
Basant Singh Gill	Besanta Singh Gill, Besant Singh Gill, Besanta Singh, Charlie Besanta Singh
Bashin Singh	Bashir Singh, Bhasin Singh
Bhaq Singh	Bagh Singh
Bhagwan Singh	Bagwan, Bhagwan, Baguin, Bagwhan, Bugwan, Bhugwan, Bhugwana
Bhola Singh	Bola, Bolah
Bollaram	Bolla Ram, Bolah, Bola
Gudit Singh	Gurditt, Gurdit, Gordit, Gurdat, Gadet
Bishen Singh	Bishan
Boogar Sing	Booga Singh
Boota Singh	Bootah
Braham Singh	Brahm, Brahma
Budda Niaz Allie	Budh
Buden Singh	Budin
Budh Singh	Bud
Buky Khomus	Bucksey Khomus, Buckshee Khomus, Khomu
Burhan Allie Khan	Barg Ali Khan, Bargh, Bargallie, Bargally
Buro Raymond	Baroo, Baru, Beero
Buttan Singh	Button
C Mahomed	Charlie Mahomed, Mahomed Gujar, Gujar Mahomed
Cabel Singh	Kabel, Kable, Cabel
Cahool Singh	Cabool, Cabel, Kabel
Calab Deen	Kaleb
Careem Bux	Karem, Karam, Carram, Carrum, Bakhsh, Baksch, Buksh
Carrum Deen Khuda Box	Bux, Bakhsh, Baksch, Buksh
Cashem Deen	Kashem, Kassem, Kishen, Kishin
Cew Nary Bux	Nabby Bux, Naby Box, Navy, Bakhsh, Baksch, Buksh
Chadu Khan	Charlie Khan, Chedu Khan
Chandah Singh	Chanda
Chere Singh	Cher, Chere, Sher
Choodrew Mongtor	Chowdree, Chowdhury, Mongta, Mongtah
Choor Singh	Choor, Chookra, Choora
Daleep Singh	Dalip
Dalumull Roopchand	Dulumal
Daulusaui Chaudass	Daulutzai Chaudas
Devan Singh	Divan, Dewan
Dewan Allie Khan	Divan, Devan, Ali
Dhan Singh	Dhian
Dhera Mall	Dheera
Doola Singh	Doolah, Dulah
Doolah Mohammad	Doola, Mohamed, Mohamed
Easser Singh	Essar, Esar, Eser
Ebrahim Khan	Ibrahim
Edoo	Edo, Edau
Eiser Singh	Isar, Esse, Issey, Esser, Eser
Elem Deen	Ellum, Elam, Elim, Illum, Ilum
Esar Dass	Isar, Esser, Eser
Fakki Alli	Fatta, Fatah, Fateh, Ali, Allie
Farman Allie	Far Ali Khan, Farman Ali
Feroze Allie Khan	Ferose, Feroz, Fayrouz
Fatta Shah	Fateh, Fatah
Fatta Singh	Fatah, Fateh,
Fazal Deen	Fazel, Din
Fiagi Bux	Fujja Bakhsh, Baksch, Buksh
Foja Singh	Fujja
Fulbage Khan	Phool Bagh Khan
Galab Jut	Gulab, Ghulab
Gallam Mahomed	Ghulam, Gulam, Gholam, Mahamed, Mohammed
Garbutchan Singh	Garbuchan Singh
Gareeb	Mark Gareeb, Gareeb Meer Bux, Bakhsh, Baksch, Buksh
Geun	Gian, Gharne
Ghlum Nabee	Gulam, Ghulam, Golam, Nabie, Nabby, Naby
Gholam Deen	Gulam, Ghulam, Golam
Gidumull Topdass	Topandas, Topandass
Gindwadgen Singh	Gurdev Gian, Gurviay
Goidetha Singh	Gordetta, Gordet, Gurdit, Gourdit
Goodya Paulo	Goodie Paulo
Goola Hassan  Khan	Ghulam, Gulam, Goolam
Gooalm Alli Khan	Gulum, Ghulam, Ali Kahn
Gopal Singh	Gurpal Singh
Gorokl Das	Gorkal
Gulbage Khan	Gulbagh, Gulbag
Gumoh	Gumo
Gunda Singh	Gundah, Gundar
Gungah Brahim	Gunga Brahm, Braham
Habbadan Khan	Harbhajan
Hackummud Chitam	Hackumound Chihu, Hackmud Chikam
Hardadd Singh	Hardit, Hardat
Hafiz Hoor Ahmed	Hafiz Noor
Hakam Khan	Hakum, Hakim, Hakeem, Hukam, Hookem, Harkam
Harman Singh	Harnam, Herman, Hermen, Hernam
Hassen Deen	Hassan
Hera Singh	Hira Singh
Hyatt Bux	Bakhsh, Baksch, Buksh
Illum Mahomed	Ellum, Elam, Ilum, Mohamed, Mahommed
Indar Singh	Inder
India Singh	Indra, Indar, Inder
Ishmael J Mahomed	Ismael John Mahomed, Ismail, Esmail, Mohamet, Mohammed
Jab Singh	Jabber, Jabbar, Jagger, Jag, Jager, Jagir
Jaffer Allie	Jaiffar, Jeffer, Jaffar, Ali
Jageer Singh	Jagir
Jamalla Singh	Jamail
Jeeman Cashmere	Jeevan, Kasmiri, Kashmiri
Jearan Khan	Jevan, Jeevan
Jervan	Jeevan
Jit Singh	Jetta, Jeet
Joalla Singh	Joallah, Jowala
Johar	Johal
Juan Khan	Gian, Gharne, John
Juggah Singh	Juggar, Jagir, Jager
Jumee Khan	Jumma, Jumna, Juma,
Jumma Mutchee	Jumma, Jumna, Juma, Munchie, Matchie, Munshie
Kabool Khan	Qabool
Kader Bux	Kadder, Qadir, Bux, Bakhsh, Baksch, Buksh
Khake	Khake
Kala Khan	Kalla, Kali, Kala
Kalbo Khan	Kaloo
Karam Singh	Karem, Karaum, Karram, Carram, Carrum
Kardah Bosh Boota	Kooda Bux Boota, Khuda Bux, Baksch, Buksch, Buksh
Kareem Bux	Karem, Carram, Carrum, Baksch, Buksch, Buksh
Karloo Khan	Kaloo Deen, Karoo Deen
Kaseta Singh	Kasheta
Kashim Deen	Qasim, Qaseem, Qazeem, Qazim, Kaseem, Kasseem
Kassam Khan	Cassim, Quasim
Keemah	Kheem, Kumah
Keroo Khan	Karroo, Karoo
Khaki	Khaka
Khuda Bux	Khoda, Khudah, Kudah, Kudda Bux Deen, Baksch, Buksch, Buksh
Kiam Deen	Qyam, Qiam
Kishin Singh	Kishan, Kishen, Keshan, Kissen
Korrum Deen	Curam, Karem, Karum, Kareem
Kulub Deen	Kaleb
Kushalla	Kushala, Kushali
Ladda Cashmera	Ludda Kashmiri, Luada
Lataf Khan	Lataft, Latif
Hakkim Khan	Hukam, Hakim, Harkam, Hookem
Lubhu Singh	Lubbo, Lubboo, Lubu
Mahair Khan	Mehar
Mahan Khan	Mehan
Mahomed Allie	Ali, Mahommed, Mahomet
Mahomed Allie Khan	Mahomed Ali Khan
Mahomed Bux	Mahommed, Mahomet, Baksch, Buksch, Buksh
Mahomed Fuzal Khan	Fuzzel
Mahomed Gujar	Gujar Mahomed, Charlie Mahomed, Gujer
Mahomed Sharker	Mahommed Shakir
Mair Bux	Meer, Amir, Ameer, Baksch, Buksch, Buksh
Malla Singh	Mulla, Mullah
Malook Singh	Maluk
Man Dean	Marm, Deen, Narm Deen
Marad Bux	Meera, Baksch, Buksch, Buksh
Mazid Khan	Majid, Majeed
Meer Alli Khan	Ameer, Amir, Ali
Meerzman	Meezaman, Meraman, Meerasman
Meya Mahomed Ariff	Mehar, Meyar, Meyah, Meyan, Meya, Maya
Meya Mahomed Bux	Mehar, Meyar, Meyah, Meyan, Meya, Maya, Baksch, Buksch, Buksh
Maya Jallaldeen	Mehar, Meyar, Meyah, Meyan, Meya, Maya
Meyan Alla Datta	Mehar, Meyan, Miyan, Alla Ditta
Meyer Singh	Mehar, Meyar, Meyah, Meyan, Meya, Maya
Missery Singh	Mystery Assaram, Rasaram
Miyan Mahboob Allum	Miyan Mahbub Allum
Miyga Khan	Miga
Mohamed Ismail	Ismael, John
Mohammet Bux	Mohamet, Baksch, Buksch, Buksh
Molla Bux	Mulla, Mullah, Baksch, Buksch, Buksh
Molla Dad	Moula, Molla, Mullah, Alladad
Monga Khan	Manga
Mota Khan	Moota
Mudjtbar Shah	Mujtaba
Mukkau Sheak Mahomed	Mukka Sheik
Munad Bux	Murad, Baksch, Buksch, Buksh
Munshee Kareem Bux	Munshee, Munshie, Munsie, Baksch, Buksch, Buksh
Mustafa Khan	Mustifa, Mustapha
Mutto	Muttoo
Nabob Khan	Nawab, Naboo, Nabo, Noab, Nowab
Naimet Khan	Namet, Namat, Naimat
Nandh singh	Nand
Narain Singh	Naran
Natha Singh	Nutta, Nuttah, Nuttha
Nathey Khan	Nathu, Nutta, Nuttah, Nuttha
Nathoo Sing	Nathoo Singh, Natha
Nazam Deem	Nazim Deen
Neasali	Naiz Ali, Naze Ali
New Gundah Singh	Gunda, Ganda
Partapa	Purtab, Purtabh, Purtarb, Pertab
Newrah	Nawrah
Nie Toola	Nitulla, Nuttoo, Nutta, Nutha, Natha
Noor Allum	Nur, Allam, Alum
Nunda Singh	Nundah
Nuthoo Khan Rie	Nuttoo, Nutta, Nutha, Nuthoo, Nuttoo Rai
Oahurwull Tharowull/Pharramull	Assomull Pamamull, Rocimull/Rochemull Pamamull
Omah Dean	Omar, Deen
Ottam Singh	Otim, Outim
Phan Singh	Khan
Pahvan	Pavan
Palwan Khan	Pelwhan, Pelwan, Palwhan, Pailwan
Parg Singh	Parget, Pargat
Pernop Singh	Pertop, Pertap, Pertab, Purtabh
Phola	Pollah, Pola, Polah
Pier Bux	Pir, Peer, Baksch, Buksch, Buksh
Punditt Salgrahm	Pundit
Rahim Bakhsh Khan	Rahim, Rahm, Raheem, Bux, Baksch, Buksch, Buksh
Rahim Tulla	Rahm, Raheem, Ramatullah, Rahmatulla, Rhamatulla
Rahna Khan	Rahana
Rala Ghamon	Ghaman
Ralla singh	Rallah, Rala, Roola, Ruila
Ranga/Ranja Khan	Rajah
Rasmat Khan	Rashmat, Rashma, Rashmai, Rashmii
Ratten Singh	Rattan, ratan
Rochemull Pamamull	Rochimull
Romali Singh	Romal, Ramali
Rubya Singh	Rulya, Rubah, Rulia, Rule, Roola
Rurah	Roorah, Roor
Sab Deen	Sabah, Sahib, Sarb
Saf Alli Khan	Saif, Saifalli, Vasilly
Sahoo Shah	Sahu, Shau, Sahoo
Said abdul Hak	Haq
Said Shah Jeelam	Jelani, Geelani
Saltuna Singh	Sultan, Sultana
Samonda Singh	Samunda, Samunder, Samund, Samonde, Simon
Santogh Singh	Santokh
Saun Singh	Sorn
Sha Wallie Khan	Shah Wali Khan, Shah Bally Khan, Civelli Kahn, Shah Valli Khan
Shah Iwar Khan	Shah Swar Khan
Shair Singh	Chere, Shere. Sher, Share
Shairsman Jan Bux	Shasmani, Shahsman, Baksch, Buksch, Buksh
Shar Khan	Sher, Shah
Shera Man	Sher, Sheera, Chere
Sheriff Deen Wazeer	Sharf, Sharif, Wazir
Sidara Singh	Sidhara
Sobah Singh	Soba
Sohna/Soni Khan	Sona, Soni, Sonah
Somond Singh	Somand, Soman, Suman, Samunda, Samunder, Samund, Samonde, Simon
Sorn Singh	Sarn, Saran
Suchet Singh	Suchette, Sucha, Suchah
Suchie Chand	Sucha, Suckie, Suki
Suden Singh	Sundah, Sunda
Sujah Singh	Sucha, Suchah
Sunda Singh	Sunder, Sundah
Sunghgoo	Sandhoo, Sandhu
Suttar Din Gujar	Suta, Sutar, Sutah, Deen, Bajar
Taroo Khan	Taru