Find your matricule number, ship, and plantation (Reunion)

Family in Reunion with Tamil/Indian roots? Even a partial ancestor name, or just an approximate arrival decade in the engagisme era (1848–1882), is enough to start — pick any ONE anchor from the list below.

French transliterations distort Tamil names heavily — TamizhConnect helps you search variants quickly and save the evidence.

Try the free record search Email me my results link

Search is private. We don't publish names. Create an account only if you want to save results.

Search is private. We don't publish names. Your saved matches appear in your family workspace.

Start with any ONE:

immigrant/indenture number
estate/plantation
ship name OR approximate year
depot number / emigration pass
ancestor + father's name

Private by default
No DNA kits
Evidence-first notes

Have documents? We'll research them for ….

Upload scans or photos. We verify key details and structure them in TamizhConnect.

Start document review Learn how verification works

What you need (and what helps)

Name variants (French transliterations differ from Tamil originals)
Father’s name (nom du père)
Matricule or registration number (if known)
Ship name (navire) or arrival year
Plantation or estate name (domaine / habitation)
Place of origin (lieu d’origine — often Pondicherry or Tamil Nadu coast)

Example searches (copy/paste)

reunion engages registre recherche

navire engages reunion 1860

engagisme reunion records search

Pondicherry to Reunion passenger list

domaine plantation reunion indenture

matricule reunion indentured labourer

Glossary (rank + reduce confusion)

Engagé / engagés (indentured labourer)Engagisme (indenture system)Matricule (registration number)Domaine / habitation (plantation / estate)Navire (ship)Port / dépôt de départPondichéry (major origin port)Lieu d’origine (place of origin)Retour (return passage)Réengagement (re-indenture)Contrat d’engagement (indenture contract)

What you can prove vs guess

Can usually confirm

Name variants, parent name, matricule number, ship, departure/arrival window, and plantation assignment.

Often unclear without extra sources

Exact village mapping in India, extended family connections, and French-transliterated names that need cross-checks.

Not proof by itself

Family stories without a matching register entry.

FAQ

What is engagisme?

The French term for the indenture system. Workers were called ‘engagés’ rather than ‘indentured labourers’.

Do I need a matricule number to start?

No. Names, ship/year, or plantations can still surface likely records.

Why are Tamil names so different in Reunion records?

French clerks transliterated Tamil names phonetically, often with heavy distortion. Try multiple variants.

Were most workers from Pondicherry?

Many came from Pondicherry and the Tamil Nadu coast, but origins varied. Check the district/lieu d’origine field.

Can I search by plantation?

Yes. Plantation names (domaines) are strong anchors when the name is too common.

Is the search private?

Yes. Searches are private by default.

How do I save a record?

Create a free account to save records and attach evidence later.

Family group

Know a cousin with ties to Reunion? Send them this page — you can search together.

Share on WhatsApp

You don't need a full name or exact dates. A village, a common surname, a ship name, or even a rough year all work — the search returns near-matches and lets you rank them. If you only know one detail, start with that; more clues can be added later.

Whatever you find stays private to you. Pinning an ancestor, saving a record, or building your family tree is visible only to your account. Sharing a record with a relative or contributing to the community pool is always a separate, explicit step — and revocable.

Ready to search?

Try the free search first, then decide if you want to save matches.

Try the free record search Email me my results link Create an account to save the record + build your family tree Go to my family tree