12357: Re: 12328: RE: 12319: Re: 12313: Mohammed's Religion Finds a Place in Haiti (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: LeGrace Benson <legrace@twcny.rr.com>

RE: FATIMA.LeGrace Benson legrace@twcny.rr.com

        It is true that in Southern Europe the name, "Fatima," is popular.
Children are indeed named after Our Lady of Fatima, the apparition of the
Virgin that appeared to three children of the Portugese town of Fatima
between May and October of 1917, i.e. during WWI.  This would be well over a
century later than the events near Cap Haitian, Haiti in 1791.  Fatima is
also the name of the daughter of Mohammed who lived circa 606 to 632.  She
was an honored person in the Islamic world, which included the Iberian
penninsula until the Expulsion of the fifteenth century. Many place names
from that former kingdom remained unchanged or little changed. In 1781,
"Fatima" (Fatiman)is more likely of Islamic or Islamicised origin than of
Portugese origin. As a side comment, the missions in Haiti of that period
included many from Italy and many, many more from France. I do not recall
seeing records of Portugese missioners, though there may well have been a
few.  Baptismal names for slaves range widely, depending upon sensibilities
of both masters and baptising priests, but most tend to be names from
classical history, literature and mythology or Christian saints, or less
often, common French names. Those who are experts in Haitian names would be
able to supply more detailed information on this point.  "Fatima" or
"Fatiman" stands out.(The orthography is of some interest here, given 18th
cnetury nasalization habits.)  Which, of course, does not necessarily mean
that the woman herself was a follower of Allah.