H. T. Haughton, Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (1891)
“ I think, therefore, it will be of interest to give a list of some of the principal Chinese and Tamil names, as the names illustrate, to a certain extent, the characteristics of each nation. For example, what can be more characteristic of the Singapore Tamil than the names he has given to the Esplanade, to Bain Court, and to Tank Road? With regard to the Chinese names, they may, I think, be divided into three classes, i.e., purely Malay names pronounced in Chinese fashion, Malay names translated into Chinese, and lastly descriptive names. ”
