Inhabited by Surinen peoples, who were driven out by other Amerindians before the 16th century; Spain claimed area 1593; Dutch settled, in dispute with British during the 17th century; Africans came as slaves in the 17th century, then indentured servants from China, Java, and India arrived; official language is Dutch, though Hindustani, Javanese, Chinese, Spanish, and the local language (Sranang Tongo) are also spoken.

Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names: http://www.getty.edu/vow/TGNFullDisplay?find=Suriname&place=&nation=&prev_page=1&english=Y&subjectid=7015386