Dutch Guiana
/ˌdʌtʃ ɡiˈɑːnə/noun
A historical name for the Dutch-controlled territories on the Guiana coast of northeastern South America, chiefly the colony of Suriname.
Did you know?“Guiana” is generally traced through Spanish Guayana to an Indigenous South American name, but its exact original meaning remains uncertain rather than securely meaning “land of many waters.”
Etymological Timeline
Pre-Columbian era
Indigenous South American languages
Guiana / Guayana
“A regional name recorded in European sources for the northeastern South American mainland; its precise Indigenous source and meaning are disputed.”
16th Century
Spanish
Guayana
“Spanish designation for the broad Guiana region along the northern coast of South America.”
1581
Dutch
Nederlandsch
“Dutch form meaning “of the Netherlands” or “Netherlandish,” from Nederland, literally “lower land.””
17th Century
Dutch and English
Dutch Guiana
“Colonial label for Dutch possessions established among the European colonies of the Guiana coast.”
1667
Dutch
Suriname
“Name of the principal Dutch colony in the region, acquired by the Dutch from England under the Treaty of Breda.”
20th Century
English
Dutch Guiana
“Historical expression increasingly replaced by Suriname, especially after Suriname became independent in 1975.”