Which ethnic group came to the Caribbean first?

Indigenous peoples: Our earliest inhabitants were the Carib, Arawak and Ciboney groups of indigenous peoples who migrated from South America. Today, descendants of these groups along with other indigenous people such as the Maya, Garifuna, Surinen and Tainos are still to be found in our Region.



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Today, Black Caribbeans primarily trace their roots to Sub-Saharan African ancestry. However, since there have been interracial marriages and unions among Caribbean peoples over the years, they may also have a mix of European, Middle Eastern, South Asian, and Indigenous Caribbean blood.

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The name Caribbean derives from the Caribs, one of the region's dominant Native American groups at the time of European contact during the late 15th century.

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It is derived from its first inhabitants, the Carib Indians, and correctly pronounced CARE-ib-bee-an. One reason many broadcasters mispronounce Caribbean is the Associated Press Broadcast Handbook lists its pronunciation phonetically as KUH-RIB'BEE-UHN.

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