On July 1st, 1863 slavery was abolished in Suriname. The registered enslaved received a surname — often linked to the plantation where they worked. Enter your family name below to discover the plantation your ancestors may have lived on.
(ST: Balen), houtgrond aan de Parakreek rechts in het opvaren; grenzend stroomopwaarts aan de houtgrond Oranje en stroomafwaarts aan de Drie-Zwitsersgrond. Eigenaren de erven James Balfour uit Schotland.
This database is compiled from historical registers from just before and after the 1863 emancipation. For each plantation we recorded the owners, location, and the family names registered there. Many Surinamese surnames trace back to this period. These records are a starting point for genealogical research — for in-depth confirmation we recommend the National Archives of Suriname and the National Archives of the Netherlands.
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