Kate Monk's Onomastikon

(Dictionary of Names)


Papua New Guinea

Capital : Port Moresby

History

First contact was made with many of the highland tribes by the Leahy brothers, Australian gold prospectors, in the 1930s. The coastal areas had been claimed by the Dutch, Germans and Australians but this colonial control only extended for between ten and forty miles inland. It was assumed that the two huge parallel mountain ranges which ran the whole length of the island were one solid mass that could not possibly be inhabited. The political borders drawn across them went through areas that nobody from outside had ever seen. The highlanders lived in a series of fertile valleys in the plateau between the ranges. There were large numbers of separate tribes and languages due to the difficult terrain which made even journeys of Ten miles dangerous but tribal cultures were broadly similar. Inland exploration by the Australians took place as a result of the discovery of large deposits of gold in Edie Creek, just thirty-five miles inland.

Coastal Regions

Waria

These were the 'policemen' who accompanied the Leahy brothers on their expeditions. Some of them were 'recognised' by the highlanders as being dead relatives returning.

Male

Barunoma Buassi Ewunga Goiba Gesupo Korpore Lowai
Owa Subul Towa Ulta Tupia Osiro Yasa  

Female

Rossa          

Surnames

Akia Ali Babo Enuma Maira Nuia
Pulu Wakit        

Eastern Highlands

Asaro River/Goroka Valley

Male

Agolave Endemongo Gasowe Gavey Akamo
Gopie Ataiamelaho Isakoa Hepu Jokuri Hari Kainaro Kravia
Kepagane Peone Khaswaho Baito Heiro Kirupano Eza'e Kize Kize Obaneso
Koin Kombagle Koritoia Ope Kumi Kispe
Nonggorr Okame Ot Pal
Pena Peng Pok Pora
Pupun Seriate Sinamoi Sole Sole
Ulaline Vojavona Wera Mori Yanopa Kai

Female

Sirizo Yerema        

Chimbu

Male

Gaima Yokumul Gerigl Gande Kaglnogl Kimba Kopol Kondon Agaundo
Konia Taglba Kopia Kerika Kubal Korul Korul Kumai Kana Mirani Gena
Onguglo Komugl Ulka Wena      

Female

Aglem Ter          

Western Highlands

The Tribes often consisted of several separate clans. A man was identified by name as a member of a tribe, a member of a clan and then by his own personal name. Thus, Ndika Mukuka Wingti - Wingti, from the Mukuka of the Ndika Tribe. The same system was used by women with the addition of Amp (woman) : Mokei Nambuka Amp Nemong.

Wahgi Valley Area

Male

Kopia Kerika Rebia Maasi Pinjinga Napornga Mare

Mount Hagen Area

Male

Isakoa Hepu Kopia Rompinjimp Nanganbia Narmu Varnu

Female

Kwimbe Nengka Amp Dau    

Mokei Tribes

Male

Akelika Yaga Andagalimp Wak Kominika Korua Kolta
Kominika Kubal Nori Kominika Kwipi Nembil Nambuka Ninji
Nambuka Titip Nambuka Wamp Wan  

Female

Kentiga Amp Kwimbe Kumbi Nambuka Amp Nemong

Ndika Tribes

Male

Klimbil Komp Nikints Mukuka Wingti Opa Opramb Rumint
Powa Wak      

Female

Komp Amp Kenga Kama Komp Amp Mancy Komp Amp Meta
Kundika Marpa Mogumand Amp Biam  

Penambe

Male

Kuan Kut Penapul Wai Wia Tugl  

Female

Ife Jara Koina      

Enga

Male

Amborn Kiakoa Loo Miok Naia Imulan Namborn
Petro Pisine Pinketa Teatakan      

Yamka

Male

Kaura Kubarl Maba Maepkang Miti Obi Wager

Female

Amp Wenta          

Gods/Spirits

Aundikla Mugl Timbil Wild spirit
Hasu Hasu Lightning
Hefioza ancestor of Kafe people
Souw creator


This collection of names was compiled by Kate Monk and is ©1997, Kate Monk.

Copies may be made for personal use only.


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