RAMEA ISLAND:

Further westward, heading closer to Burgeo, there is an archipelago of islands of five islands referred to as the Ramea Islands. Le Messurier (1916) wrote the following:

There has been much controversy about the name Ramea given to a number of islands which lie southwest of Burgeo; it has been written in various ways, Ramie, Ramee, and Ramea.

Le Ramee is the name of a place in Guernsey, rames is an old Norman word for wild vetches (According to information presented in the ENL a vetch, specifically the Astragalus alpinus L, or alpine milk vetch, is a violet- flowering herb that climbs or lies along the ground] and vetches are to be found in all these islands.

In all probability the names Rames was given to them because of the quantity of vetches found there. In the ENL entry, another possible origin of the place name is given.

There it is suggested that the "most commonly accepted explanation for the name Ramea is that it is an anglicized version of rameau (branches) and refers to the area's many islets and waterways".

It is believed that the islands that formed the archipelago were originally known as Ilos Santa Anna.

It is thought that Portuguese fisherman, who could have been fishing there are early at the 1550s, named them after Saint Anne as they were first sighted on her feast day (July 26).

While most of the fishing in the area around Newfoundland was done by Europeans, in the ENL it is stated that "in 1818 American fishermen were given fishing privileges in the waters surrounding Ramea" however, there is no citation to further research that assertion.

Originally there were a number of small, isolated communities scattered over the islands, however in the early 1940s most of the families moved to the Northwest Island and the town of Ramea, which was incorporated in 1951 is basically all that is "left".

Because of its close proximity to the fishing grounds, and the fact that there was a good harbour, Ramea grew in size to the point that in the 1970 the population exceeded 1,120, however, like most of the thriving fishing villages in the province, the cod moratorium of 1992 resulting in the collapse of the East Coast fishery, and the closure of the fish plant, employment levels increased, and people left the island.

In the latest census, in 2016, there were only 447 people living in Ramea, a decrease of 14.8% from 2011 when 526 residents were enumerated. Loss of townsfolk, however, has not resulted in loss of Newfoundland spirit. From the ENL.com website one can find the following:

For a sample of raw outport talent and a "rousing" good time, visitors can take in the "Rock Island Music Festival," a two day event held annually on the second weekend in August. Enjoy performances by local musicians and entertainers and delight in traditional Newfoundland cuisine.

For a sense of real outport life and hospitality join the residents who frequent the wharves and fishing stages. There you can participate in a "yarn" and be informed on all the latest happenings. Ramea remains a strong and unified community. Its citizens always ready to welcome visitors with warmth and hospitality.

Used with permission from "Uncovering the Origin of 1001 Unique Place Names in Newfoundland and Labrador" 2021 Jennifer Leigh Hill

Address of this page: http://nl.ruralroutes.com/Ramea