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Māori naming customs

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InNew Zealand before the 1800s, Māori children would be called by one given name (simple or composite). These names were attributed to remarkable events around birth. Later in life a person might be given a new name relating to subsequent events.^[1]

1800–1900[edit]

With the arrival of Europeans, surnames were introduced and soon after a Māori surname system was devised where a person would take their father's name as a surname, for example:

Ariki – Maunga Ariki – Waiora Maunga – Te Awa Waiora – Waipapa Te Awa

Māori would also have translations of their names, for example:

John Te Awa – Hone River – John River – Hone Waipapa Te Awa – John Waipapa Te Awa – Hone Waipapa – John Waipapa

References[edit]

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