Genealogy

The genealogies published in the Journals of the Dutch Burgher Union of Ceylon (JDBU) since 1908 have in themselves undergone varying degrees of use and usefulness over time. In terms of the original Dutch Burgher Union constitution, it formed the sole basis for membership to the Union. Down the track, in the mid 1950s and 60s, these genealogies also served as virtual passports to many thousands of Burghers, who migrated to countries like Australia whose immigration policies at the time accommodated only people of European descent.

Now, in this information age, the pursuit of genealogical research has grown enormously and is no longer the domain of a handful of serious students or professionals with mandates or time on their hands to sift through tons of dusty records archived in musty rooms. Today, just as everyone has become a photographer through the advancements in digital technology, everyone has also become a genealogist. Indeed, this sphere of activity is reputed to generate the second highest levels of Internet traffic, only behind that of the XXX variety!

For these budding genealogists who have taken this subject up as a hobby, or those individuals who simply wish to trace their own ancestry, the genealogies produced in the JDBU have been a rich source of information and we are delighted to be able to present them on-line.