Colonial spellings of our surnames — Who is “Cossa” in Xitsonga?

The history of how our ancestors were documented in colonial records.



Who does “Cossa” refer to?

In Xitsonga, Cossa is Khosa. 🔥

Why is “Cossa” written in a foreign format?

Long ago, the surname Khosa was changed to Cossa by the Portuguese. Why? Because their language doesn’t have the “Kh” sound found in Xitsonga! So, they wrote it the way it sounded to them — and that’s how Khosa became Cossa in official documents. 🔥

Keep exploring, keep learning, and let the language guide you.

Losani. 🔥