A Simple Guide To Trace Your Ancestors In Mauritius

In light of the fact that we are a cosmopolitan island with a wide diversity in cultures and beliefs, the extensive and traumatic history of our ancestors has inspired a significant number of Mauritians to investigate their lines of descent. Using this straightforward and concise guide, you will be able to understand the steps to look for your ancestors, which are methods that any Mauritian, including those who have moved to other countries, can follow.

African Slaves & Indian Indentured Laborers

Our island’s past is extensive. Since the 17th century, when the Dutch arrived at our island, slaves have been brought here. A few slaves were left behind even after the Dutch departed; some of them remained here until the French arrived in 1715. More slaves from other African countries, including Madagascar, Mozambique, and others, were brought over by the French. The British era’s 1845 abolition of slavery had a significant effect on Mauritius’s sugar industry.

After slavery was abolished, the British were compelled to bring in a new sort of labor to work in the sugar industry. The indentured laborer system was initially implemented on our island and subsequently spread to other countries such as Fiji, Trinidad & Tobago, and so on. Indentured labor is a type of contract in which the labor in issue works for a set period of time. The indentured laborers who arrived to Mauritius were from India.

Following the end of slavery, African who were slaves continued to live here, raise families, work in different sectors, and contribute to society. The same is true for indentured laborers, which ended in the 1920s, with some Indian families settling here and others returning to India. Those who opted to remain here purchased land, built homes, raised families, and continued to live.

Mauritius gained independence in 1968, and as a result of its diverse population, there are a variety of cultures, beliefs, races, and other characteristics.

We Are All Attached To Our Roots

Our history is beautiful, yet it is sometimes disputed and modified to serve the interests of some people. However, we cannot forget our past. Since our independence, the authorities have gathered several methods for researching our roots. People wanted to know more about their grandparents’ origins, how they arrived here, and why. Previous records have aided these duties; nevertheless, thousands of those records are likely missing, damaged, or possibly destroyed.

How To Trace Your African Ancestors In Mauritius?

• The first step is to gather information about your family. Based on your last name, go to your region’s civil status office and ask for an officer to assist you in researching your family. Obviously, bring your birth certificate and national identity card with you. The officer will examine all records, including your father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, until no record is found. Make copies of each of these documents.
• The last name is essential in this case. If you feel your family’s names have not altered, searching will be easier. After acquiring the relevant paperwork, you can visit the Nelson Mandela Centre to look up your ancestors. They have a large collection of slave ancestral records that will tell you the slave owner your ancestors served for, the locations, and so on. The Nelson Mandela Centre also has an online database where you can search for your ancestors. Please register and wait for a login before proceeding.
• If you have not found any relevant information, please visit the National Archives for additional investigation. This technique is difficult and time-consuming, but it can be beneficial.

How To Trace Your Indian Ancestors In Mauritius?

• The first stage is the same as for the African ancestors investigation mentioned above. Go to your regional civil status office with your national identity card and birth certificate and request that an officer assist you in tracing your grandparents based on your last name. The final record will include an immigration number next to the name. It is your ancestor’s immigration number, indicating that they were the first of your ancestors to arrive in Mauritius. Remember to print out all birth certificates.
• Proceed from that immigration number to the Mahatma Gandhi Institute Immigration Department in Moka. Bring both your birth certificate and your ancestor’s birth certificate, which includes the immigration number. Give it to the officer there, and he or she will conduct the appropriate search in their records.
• After a few days, the officer will reach out to you regarding your ancestral information. This document will reveal to you which ship your ancestor arrived at, from which region of India, and for whose sugar estates he or she worked. Unfortunately, not everyone will receive all the details. Certain information, such as the district, area, or sugar estates, may be absent. If your ancestor was photographed here, you may obtain a photo of him or her. Keep in mind that photography was brought into the world in the 1860s. Because the first class of Indian indentured laborers arrived in the early 1840s, there was no photography at the time; therefore, if your ancestor arrived between 1840 and 1860, he or she is unlikely to have been photographed. However, this practice of photography was resumed in the 1880s, so if your relatives were still living at the time, there is a chance he or she was photographed.
• After gathering all the necessary information, you can reach the Indian Embassy to track down your ancestor’s family members in India. It does have some financial implications. Furthermore, if you meet the requirements, you can apply for an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card.

The MGI solely keeps records on Indian indentured laborers. Not all Indian-origin families were indentured. If your ancestor came here as a non-indentured laborer, the national archives are the best place to look for information.

The One and Only Mauritian Genealogy Association

The Cercle de Généalogie Maurice-Rodrigues (CGMR) is a registered association that offers genealogy services in both Mauritius and Rodrigues. They assist people in establishing their family tree. People with French or British ancestors can benefit greatly by consulting CGMR.

Their website, https://genealogie.mu/, contains an online forum for asking questions, cemetery records, and other important information. The CGMR is handled by volunteers from Mauritius and other countries that specialize in specific duties such as digitalization, transcribing, and so on. They also collaborate with the Société de L’histoire and other organizations. You may also join as a member for a low charge. You can also support their efforts by making a donation.

To use the CMGR database for genealogy research, you must sign up. Once they get your request, they will approve your profile, and you will be able to begin your search for free!