Page 1 of 1

As spelled in Dutch: Johannes or Johannes Ami(er)

Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2011 6:44 am
by Hovanes
I am newly registered here and pls excuse me if I posted my request(s) in the wrong section.

I am in search of my great grandfather who settled down in the Dutch East Indies in 1808 arriving from Surat Gujarat N.W. India and most probably born in New Julpha (Isphahan Iran.)

There is very little recorded by the former colonial Dutch government in the Dutch East Indies about the Armenians. I have no idea why. Lack of being interested?
However, it is stated that my great grandfather was called in Dutch language: Joseph Johannes and sometimes the clercs added the word "Ami(e)r to his name, thusly stating: Joseph Johannes Ami(e)r.
He married a daughter of a German Phd who came from Massenhausen Germany along with the VOC (Dutch East Indies Company).

I studied litarature/books from other sources and found different spellings making things confusing for me.

My need for help:

1) Can anyone explain the titles Khojah (Chojah), Agah or Aga or Agha, Amir of Amier or Amirean to me please. It seems that my greatgrandfather had been awarded with these titles in several books and studies.
2) I am not familiar with Armenian language, so I need also help for this: Is Joseph same as Hovsep? Is Johannes same as HovHanes or Jovanes? (Same as additional info at 1 above.)
3) Is anybody familiar with the Armenian family who lived in The Dutch East Indies somewhere around 1810 at the town of Semarang, as the Dutch records only started to record from 1815. Especially regarding the name Johannes and/or Andreas.
My greatgrandfather seemed to be a powerful and wealthy man in his days.

I am sorry for troubling anybody with my requests for help, but I am totally stuck in my search.

Anyway, many thanks in advance for help.

H.

Re: As spelled in Dutch: Johannes or Johannes Ami(er)

Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 10:56 pm
by Stone
1. No idea, but my guess is a musical instrument. Agha is surname for Arabic invaders of Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

2. Exactly. It would be pronounced Hov-ahn-es.

3. Many Armenian merchants in India were very wealthy and still are.

Re: As spelled in Dutch: Johannes or Johannes Ami(er)

Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 11:13 pm
by Hovanes
@ Stone:

Thanks for reply.

Gr/H