History, Language & Culture Cayman Islands

Cayman Islands discovered by Europeans Christopher Columbus spotted the Cayman Islands on May 10,1503 and named it Las Tortugas, following the numerous sea turtles that were seen swimming in the surrounding waters. Columbus found two small islands (Cayman Brac and Little Cayman) and were both he named "Las Tortugas". Later in the year 1586 Sir Francis Drake, a British explorer, came to the island. And occupied the island as a British colony By naming the islands in this area as Cayman During that time, turtle fishing on the Cayman Islands became a major economic source. And about 1,400 turtles are reportedly traded annually to Jamaica. Which made the turtle population in that area almost extinct.

British English is the most commonly spoken language in the Cayman Islands, albeit with a distinctive Caymanian dialect. Jamaican patois is also commonly spoken in the Cayman Islands, and younger Caymanian generations had adopted certain Jamaican terms and expressions.

The culture of the Cayman Islands has been influenced by Afro-Caribbeans of Jamaica, colonists of Great Britain, and more recent immigrants from the United States. In the 21st century, approximately 113 nationalities make up the residents on the three islands comprising the country. The total population of the Cayman Islands consists of slightly more than 55,000 people spread throughout the island group, with the majority of the people found on Grand Cayman. Roughly 20,000 are native Caymanian, with the remainder born elsewhere in the world.

In the past, most of the people of the Cayman Islands got their livelihood from the sea through fishing, turtle harvesting, and as merchant seamen. Cayman Sea Salt and Cayman Logwood products are now locally made and exported.