Histories

The word " Peranakans " meaning " descendents " is colloquially used to refer to the descenents of the early chinese community that settled in the Malay Archipelago around the 17th Century . Also known as " Babas " ( the males ) or " Nonyas " ( the females ) , they are typically of mixed parentage ( between the chinese men and native women ) , as Chinese women were restricted by law from leaving the main land ( china )until sometimes in the 19th Century . These communities lived and engaged in trade within the straits settlements of Singapore , Malacca , Penangand even Dutch controlled Java resulting in another name being commonly used to describe them the " Straits of Chinese "