Patterns in the Names of Māori Representative Sportsmen in New Zealand, 1884–2007

Abstract

Since the late nineteenth century, just over 2,200 men have represented New Zealand in rugby union, rugby league and cricket. Of these men 310 are known to have Māori ancestry. In this paper six questions are asked of these Māori representatives. These are: (1) What are the players’ given names and surnames? (2) What are the languages of the players’ given names and surnames? (3) What patterns occur, by languages, for the players’ combined given names and surnames? (4) What changes have there been in the patterns, by languages, of the combined given names and surnames, over time? (5) What societal pressures might the parents of the players have been under when naming their sons? (6) What naming choices did the parents have in regard to those pressures? Explanations for the findings and changes are sought in early naming practices, missionary and church naming practices, government policies about the nature of New Zealand society (e.g., in education, naming, housing and language), internal Māori migration patterns and intermarriage patterns. In conclusion, Māori activism in the 1970s and its possible influence on given and family names are commented on.