Place names of Aldabra

Abstract

Place name usage on Aldabra is complicated by the fact that many names have been given by Seychellois fishermen, and are hence of French derivation, while some names have been added by and the atoll is under the administration of English-speaking people. In some few cases only English names are available for topographic features (e.g. Wilson’s Well, Abbott’s Creek), while in a much larger number of cases locally used French names have no English equivalent. It is not therefore possible to adhere to a toponymy either completely English or completely French. To add to the confusion some hybrid names have appeared on official maps. The first detailed map of Aldabra showing place names now in use was that made by Wharton in 1878 and published as Admiralty Chart 718. This formed the basis of maps used by Voeltzkow (1897) and Fryer (1911). Additional information is given by Abbott (1893), and by Dupont (1907). Most of the names on Wharton’s chart refer to prominent topographic features such as islands and channels, and are mainly of English derivation. Some, such as Euphrates Island (for Ile Esprit) and Cocoanut Island (for Ile Michel) are not used by the local inhabitants.