Find your immigration number, ship, and plantation (Suriname)

If your family is Indian/Hindustani in Suriname and you’re researching indenture-era records (1873–1916), start with the anchor fields: immigration number (immigratie), ship, arrival year, and plantation.

Dutch spellings distort Tamil and Hindi names heavily — TamizhConnect helps you search variants quickly and save the evidence.

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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

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What you need (and what helps)

Name variants (Dutch transliterations differ greatly)
Father’s name
Immigration number (immigratie, if known)
Ship name or arrival year
Plantation or employer name
District of origin in India

Example searches (copy/paste)

suriname immigratie register search

Nickerie plantation indenture records

Paramaribo immigration records

suriname ship list Madras 1890

hindustani ancestor suriname search

suriname immigratie nummer lookup

Glossary (rank + reduce confusion)

Immigratie registerImmigratie nummerPlantationHindustani (community term)Paramaribo (capital / depot)Nickerie (district)Kuli-overeenkomst (coolie contract)Dutch transliterationShip / voyageReturn passageRe-indentureEmployer

What you can prove vs guess

Can usually confirm

Immigration number (immigratie), ship name, arrival date, plantation assignment, declared age, and parent name when listed.

Often unclear without extra sources

Exact Indian village, extended relatives, and Dutch-transliterated names that need cross-checks with Indian records.

Not proof by itself

Family stories without a matching entry in the Suriname immigration register (immigratieregister).

FAQ

Do I need an immigration number to search?

No. Names, plantations, and ship/year combos can still surface likely records. The immigration number (called immigratie nummer in the Dutch colonial registers) is helpful but not required.

Why are names so different in Suriname records?

Dutch clerks transliterated Indian names their own way. Expect heavy spelling shifts from Tamil or Hindi originals.

Is Suriname covered separately from Guyana?

Yes. While the search approach is similar, Suriname records use Dutch administrative terms and have a distinct register system.

Can I search by plantation?

Yes. Plantation names are powerful anchors, especially for common names.

Is the search private?

Yes. Searches are private by default.

How do I save a record?

Create a free account to save matches and attach documents later.

What if I only know a ship name?

Ship name plus a year is enough to get started.

Family group

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

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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.

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