HOW THE CAYMAN ISLANDS GOT ITS NAME?
The Cayman Islands was first sighted by European explorers on May 10 1503, owing to a chance wind that blew Christopher Columbus’ ship off course. On his fourth and final voyage to the New World, Columbus was en route to the island of Hispaniola (home to Haiti and the Dominican Republic) when his ship was thrust westward toward “two very small and low islands, full of tortoises (turtles), as was all the sea all about, insomuch that they looked like little rocks, for which reason these islands were called Las Tortugas”. Columbus named the islands after the turtles he saw in the waters around them.
The two islands sighted were Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. A 1523 map showing all three Islands gave them the name Lagartos, meaning alligators or large lizards, but by 1530 the name Caimanas was being used. It is derived from the Carib Indian word for the marine crocodile, which is now known to have lived in the Islands. This name, or a variant, has been retained ever since. Thus the word eventually developed into Cayman and adding the word Islands, we became the ‘Cayman Islands’.
An early English visitor was Sir Francis Drake, who on his 1585-86 voyage to these waters reported seeing”great serpents called Caimanas, like large lizards, which are edible.” It was the Islands’ ample supply of turtle, however, that made them a popular calling place for ships sailing the Caribbean and in need of meat for their crews. This began a trend that eventually drastically depleted our local waters of the turtle, compelling Caymanian turtle fishermen to go further afield to Cuba and the Miskito Cays in search of their catch.
WHO WERE THE FIRST INHABITANTS?
It is a well established fact that most of the early settlers in the Cayman Islands came from the British settlement in Jamaica. The first known settlers arrived in Little Cayman around 1658, and it is generally believed that they were deserters from Oliver Cromwell’s army in Jamaica.
It is also believed that some may have been pirates who gave up their errant ways to live a more peaceful life on the islands. The first two settlers were Mr. Bodden or Bowden and Mr. Watler or Walter. Over the course of the next couple of years some other settlers came to join Mr. Bodden and Mr. Watler, and many of these settled on Cayman Brac. Some of the early settlers were fishermen who caught turtle to sell to Jamaican merchants. Isaac Bodden, the first recorded permanent inhabitant of the Cayman Islands, was born on Grand Cayman around 1700. He was the grandson of the original settler named Bodden who was likely one of Oliver Cromwell’s soldiers at the taking of Jamaica in 1655. A variety of people settled on the islands: pirates, refugees from the Spanish Inquisition, shipwrecked sailors and slaves. The majority of Caymanians are of African and British descent, with considerable interracial mixing.
WHAT IS THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS?
English is the official language, but it is important to note that it is British English, rather than American English thus we say ‘colour’ rather than ‘color’ and ‘centre’ rather than ‘center’. Despite this, Caymanians have over the years developed their own vernacular dialect which is a form of broken standard English. Each district has its own idiosyncratic differences.
FUNFACT: The capital, George Town, was named after King George III of England.
WHAT ARE SOME COMMON EXPRESSIONS OR SAYING USED BY CAYMANIANS?
Traditionally Caymanians have been known to pronounce words beginning with “V” as “W’s” e.g. Very become W-ery. Vegetables become W-egetables. The dialect of Caymanians is very distinct and each District has its own intonations. For example, when asking someone who their parents are, an East Ender would say: Boy who ya fah? (Boy, who are you for?). While a George Towner would query: who u belong ta? (Who do you belong to?). Cayman Brac and Little Cayman also have distinct ways of pronunciation and it is quite noticeable when they speak.
WHAT ARE SOME OF TRADTITIONAL HANDCRAFTS?
Cayman has a long history of rope making, made from our national tree the Silver Thatch Palm which went mainly to Jamaica. We also make hand made traps to catch our local rabbit known as agouti.
ABOUT CAYMANIANS
After spending only a few hours on our beloved island, visitors are bound to fall in love with its natural beauty and the character of its enchanting people.
Visitors are welcomed with warm smiles and the sweet sound of local music playing at various places all over the islands. You will notice that the sister islands; Cayman Brac and Little Cayman are particularly peaceful and relaxing. You can enjoy your stay with us by simply meeting Caymanians and learning about our Caymanian culture, tasting our rum cake and soaking up our beautiful warm sunshine.
Caymanians are renowned for their friendliness and are devout, church-going people. They are proud of their multiracial and multicultural origins. Approximately one in four is European, mainly descended from British settlers. A further quarter is of African descent, and the rest claim mixed ancestry. The official language is English.
The People of the Cayman Islands are polite and not shy to greet all guests! Caymanians are people who know their history very well and could easily tell a visitor all the must-see spots. The Islands are also hassle-free with no street vendors, allowing a peaceful and pleasant visit as well as the freedom to wander and enjoy our capital: George Town, which possesses some of the best cooking and shopping in the Caribbean. Our island is one of the safest in the Caribbean boasting a low crime rate.
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