common last names for slaves in the 1800s common last names for slaves in the 1800s

In small communities where census takers and county officials knew African Americans personally and their previous owners, they often recorded the former slaves with the surnames of their last owners. Through DNA matches, I believe I have recently found a brother of my mothers great grandfather. PDF Slave Names in Colonial South Carolina - Latin American Studies Because I like to let formerly enslaved people speak for themselves, here are several examples of freedmen and women discussing their surnames. I found in the Civil War registry, an enslaved man who enrolled in the infantry under the name of Wash Ellis. Slaveholders and African Americans 1860-1870 - RootsWeb Available from https://nmaahc.si.edu/object/nmaahc_2014.174.8?destination=/explore/collection/search%3Fedan_q%3Denslaved%26edan_fq%255B0%255D%3Dobject_type%253A%2522Photographs%2522 (accessed May 6, 2022). The box for father states unknown in law. Her marriage record states her name is Sarah Charlotte Gale, her father being John Sinclair Gale! Isaac evolved from the name Yitzchaq, derived from the Hebrew word, Lysander is a distinctive Greek name that could be thought of as a more creative cousin of Alexander. My fathers name was Gilbert Jackson, and after I was set free I took the name of my father, and have been known by the name Smith Jackson. Spanish areas had male Slave names as Francisco, Pedro, and Antonio; and for females: Maria, Isabella, and Juana. I especially recommend Mother, Thy Name is Mystery! Both are excellent researchers and historians. . Hi Jim, Isaiah derives from the Hebrew Yeshayahu, containing the elements. LOTTIE had been the name of the nurse before me and so they just continued that same name. For example, I know of one Louisiana family whose surname of Poulard evolved from a ancestor of the Poular nation(aka Fulani). This mini-lesson helps students define the term, learn what forms reparations can take, and consider what reparations should be offered for slavery and other racist policies. A krio from.Freetown Sierra Leone. College, Advanced AA Gen Class, September 2011, AAHGS Annual Genealogy Conference, November 2008, Howard Comm. . Search 30 million given names. My surname of SAM originated from Sem or Sam FUSELIER, a free man of color who freed my ancestor,Jean-Louis, out of slavery in 1811. Clark is a common surname of Anglo-Scottish origin. I am the identical person who served in the said companies under the name of Lewis Smith. A brief history of black names, from Perlie to Latasha - The Conversation Slave Names of the 1800's by Emils M - Prezi By the late 19th century, England was home to about 300 surnames with traceable genealogy. how the surnames former slaves had were connected to their experiences in slavery. In the context of The Bahamas, the surname appears to originate with Denys Rolle, an American Loyalist who re-settled on Exuma, one of the so-called Out Islands of The Bahamas, sometime in the mid-1780s. Testimony of Mollie Russell (widow of Phillip Fry), September 19, 1911: Q. I was called by that name all the time I was with the Morrows. In 1870, he is listed as John Washington. A. I was first called by that name in the family of Col. Morrow in whose service I was in Louisville, Ky., just after the war. Students examine how freed people in the United States sought to define freedom after Emancipation. British Surnames of the 1800s - Synonym So far Ive found no one who can give me any information about how these people assumed the Culbert surname. Of the 972 names of male Slaves recorded between 1619 and 1799 the leading ones were Jack, Tom, Harry, Sam, Will, Caesar, Dick, John, Robin, Frank, Charles, Joe and Prince. In 1870, all of them were listed with the surnames of their last owner; however, each one of them named their sons for one of their brothers. 18. I first wrote about this in this 2009 post: http://justthinking130.blogspot.com/2009/09/calvin-r-yarborough-where-it-all-began.html, And,then, more recently in 2013, here: http://justthinking130.blogspot.com/2013/11/many-rivers-to-cross-my-priscilla.html. They called me "OCK". . My maternal grandmother was an Auber. There are 15 tables, blank and editable for you to populate, as well as samples of using each. This is common. common last names for slaves in the 1800s. 100 Most Common US Surnames Origins and Meanings - ThoughtCo Of course my mother wasnt a Bradley fore she married. I am the applicant for pension on account of having served in Co. B. For more details, see the flier here, and you can purchase them here. No, I don't know to whom she belonged before she was brought from Virginia to Kentucky. Use the form below to get in touch with me and I'll get back to you as soon as possible. Robyn. Surely the hundreds of black Culbert people living today cannot all be connected to those three cases. Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts South Atlantic Creole Archipelagos By country & year of birth. Gerald, however, is a Germanic name meaning ruler) 2. My mothers name was Octavia Smith and it was from her that I got it but where the name came from to her I never knew. Other common surnames included Jones, Matthews, Sinclair, and Bennett, Price, and Gray.. . Join my mailing list below to receive my posts and get a free PDF with some of my favorite tips! No, I dont know to whom she belonged before she was brought from Virginia to Kentucky. Derived from the word anull that is the Catalan language dominantly used in southern France, Anouilh means 'slow worm'. Like most of the architecture and towns in Italy, they can also tell a story. I did not even check the 1850 slave schedule. This event is $20. Who called you by that name and where was it done? Facing History & Ourselves uses lessons of history to challenge teachers and their students to stand up to bigotry and hate. Students consider how US history books, films, and other works of popular culture have misrepresented the history of the Reconstruction era. American slave owners or slaveholders were owners of slaves in the United States which typically worked either as agriculture laborers or house servants. In order to receive their pensions decades later, these former soldiers and their family members had to demonstrate to the government that they were who they claimed to be. They are part of Records of the U.S. Customs Service . Where did you get the maiden name of Smith from? These cookies do not store any personal information. The link was not copied. But the meanings of names certainly evolved over time, and some have argued that the principles according to which an individual name was given (e.g., after a relative or ancestor) are at least as important as its apparent meaning and type. The highest percentage of African names was found among male slaves in the eighteenth century, when . The name James has been a popular Victorian male names in the 1800s. Perhaps this caused some Slaves to ask: Am I my new name or am I still my old name? Interestingly, the five most common American surnames as of 2010 haven't changed that much over time and are Smith, Johnson, Williams, Brown, and Jones. Tags: African American Names, African American Surnames, African Names, Black Surnames, Last Slave Owner, Plantation Owners, plantation slavery, Slave Family, Slave Naming Patterns, slave trade. This suggests most of those African-Americans probably did come about that name from prior slaveholders (since we know they likely werent from Scotland;):) I think you just have to include all the variations of Culbert to see how that could be the case. However, many African Americans faced a problem when they applied for their pensions. Youll often see the word degraded used in the academic references; these were all attempts at degradation. I have found only one very rare example of a slaveholders inventory, that lists the slaves along with their surnames. Students examine the factors that led many northerners to turn against federal policies passed during the Reconstruction era that protected freedpeople. There was often a fluidity to the surnames that enslaved people had. 687+ African-American Last Names [All Categories] - Tag Vault 20 August 2022, 1-3:30 pm [PAST EVENT], Eastern Standard Time: Join me for a two-hour lecture and workshop on Using Deed Records. These require Microsoft Word and a Windows platform. All rights reserved. Beginning in the early nineteenth century, more biblical names were given to enslavedchildren, a reflection of the widespread attempts to Christianize enslaved communities. Farley, (English Origin) Victorian-era last names meaning "fern woodland". You already know the rich historical terrain of FPOC in Louisiana, what terrific grounds for family research. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. I am not able to find any slaveholders in the Versailes area by the name of Ellis. See more details in the flier here and they are available for purchase for $10 . Entre la construccin de la memoria y la ficcin histrica", "From Africa to India: Music of the Sidis and the Indian Ocean Diaspora (review)", "Mark and Phillis Executions, Burned at the Stake and Gibbeted in Puritan Massachusetts", "Letter from Paul Revere to Jeremy Belknap, circa 1798", "Re: Nancy Titsworth-1800-Livin - Genealogy.com", Association of Muslim Social Scientists & International Institute of Islamic Thought 2008, "Creolizing Natural Liberty: Transnational Obligation in the Thought of Ottobah Cugoano", "Madison and the White House, Through the Memoir of a Slave", "Black Slaves, Indian Masters: Slavery, Emancipation, and Citizenship in the Native American South, by Barbara Krauthamer (2013) Not Even Past", "Timeline of Missouri's African American History", "So Tom e Prncipe recorda o Rei Amador", "Black Christian Republicans: Delegates to the 1847 Liberian Constitutional Convention", "A Slave's Service in the Confederate Army", "Slavery and French Cuisine in Jefferson's Working White House", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_slaves&oldid=1140857860, This page was last edited on 22 February 2023, at 03:19. Pinckney, Randolph, and Rutledgeappear only incidentally among any list of modern Black peoples names. They identified 21 distinctly Black male names, among them biblical classics such as Abraham and Moses, and word names including Freeman and Prince. Slave Ship Manifests filed at New Orleans, 1807-1860 | National Archives The majority of these slaves used the surname Lewis instead of Washington. Copyright 2023 Facing History & Ourselves. People of the Atlantic Slave Trade - Database If you can identify your ancestor's master, this source will prove of tremendous value to your research. Drawing on extensive archival records, this digital memorial allows analysis of the ships, traders, and captives in the Atlantic slave trade. Data from the 2010 Census tells a different story. This was done more because it was the logical thing to do and the easiest way to be identified than it was through affection for the master. Garcia is the Spanish variation of the word Gerald that means a pointed weapon, like a spear. CLICK HERE TO SAVE YOUR SEAT! Now, that parents surname could very well be the surname of the most recent slaveholder or an earlier slaveholder. Just from the detail in your first comment, I knew there was a good chance you were already familiar with those authors. The Missouri Compromisealso referred to as the Compromise of 1820was an agreement between the pro- and anti-slavery factions regulating slavery in the western territories. Another common way of distinguishing people would be 'son of', for example Johnson (son of John), Richardson, Wilson, Harrison etc. This reading contains quoted text not authored by Facing History & Ourselves. Miracle, (Old English and Latin Origin) Derived from the first name Mauritius meaning "dark". -Unknown, "Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city;)" Victorian Surnames in England and Wales - Geri Walton Copeland This last name comes from Old Norse origin. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. And even though slave marriages were not legal, many enslaved people followed the practice of the wife taking her husbands surname: My mother was named Mary Bradley and my father was named Hilliard Bradley. A. Mr. Thomas Jefferson of Louisville, bought me when I was three years of age from Mr. Dearing. Eliza Moore (1843 - January 21, 1948) Source = Pinimg. My mothers name was Octavia Smith and it was from her that I got it but where the name came from to her I never knew. It gives the age and sex of the slave and the number of slaves of each age and sex. Many Welsh surnames follow this pattern, with Jones (from 'John's son) being the most common. And again, as a white Southerner whose ancesters were NOT slaveowners, your blog is helping me to understand the real and horrible legacy of the peculiar institution. So I asked my mother and she told me my father John Barnett, a white man, and I took up the name of Barnett . .When I got home after the war, I was wearing the name of Lewis Smith, but I found that the negroes after freedom, were taking the names of their father like the white folks. Melvin, These people are referred to as slaves, or as enslaved people. In many cases this is ignored and children use their fathers name! State of residence is Missouri unless otherwise noted. The name of the tragic mythological Trojan princess who was given the gift of prophecy by Apollo, but was condemned never to be believed, Cassandra has been used for striking characters in movies and soap operas. Florence, Fiorella, Fleur, and Flower are translations, but we like Flora best of all. Unfortunately, I am not knowledgeable enough about African and Caribbean research in the areas you name. Thank you so much for your kind words. A Wessyngton slave named Bill who was the plantations blacksmith was known as Billy the Smith during slavery. 120 Most Popular African Last Names Or Surnames - MomJunction I also meant to email you and tell you how I enjoyed your article in the last NGSQ. In the. Hi Rodney, Slavery's reach is still with us, and part of the gift of doing African-American genealogy is recovering the stories of those caught in its grasp who could not in their own time leave their own witness.". "While African-American genealogical research in many ways is like all genealogical research, the era of slavery makes the task especially challenging. In his pension file, my great great grandmother his widow expressed that he chose his former enslaver surname because his father had been enslaved by them, too. Slavery | Tennessee Encyclopedia List of slave owners - Wikipedia He took his last enslaver surname. This meant that army records documented their service with their old names instead of their new ones. common last names in the 1800s - conference.ase.ro 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S. | Name Census I am sure your father would also be very proud of your interest in family history. A favorite of British novelists including Evelyn Waugh and P. G. Wodehouse, Ambrose has an air of blooming well-being and upper-class erudition. -Hugh Kingsmill, "No matter what you've done for yourself or for humanity, if you can't look back on having given love and attention to your own family, what have you really accomplished?" Robyn. common last names for slaves in the 1800s. 9 'Facts' About Slavery They Don't Want You to Know | Snopes.com . African Americans tended to use surnames associated with their own families instead of the last slave owner. Used by permission of the publisher. It means 'clerk' or 'secretary'. ", "The great gift of family life is to be intimately acquainted with people you might never ever introduce yourself to had life not done it for you. Another common practice was to select a surname that fit the personality of an individual, such as Hardy or Rambler. Rather than being derived from the supernatural world, European given names were a mere handle or tag. Special slave censuses were kept in the early 1800s. The result was the birth of mulatto, quadroon, or mustee (mestee) children. Analyzing Creole names, especially those of African origin, demands a combination of historical and linguistic expertise that has not yet been systematically applied to slave names. Slave Names | NCpedia I was only three years old when she died. Chery Meaning: derived from the Latin Cariacus, which means "land belonging to Cariu"; darling Origin: French 5. ", "Call it a clan, call it a network, all it a tribe, call it a family. Abel, the name of Adam and Eve's unfortunate younger son, compensates with positive connotations: capable, competent, ready and willing. -William Faulkner, "Call it a clan, call it a network, all it a tribe, call it a family. This is true in some cases but not all. My fathers name was John Crosby and he lived in the town of Geneva, Alabama, I had two brothers and one sister. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Most Common English Surnames & Meanings - Forebears 1. In Greek mythology, Athena is the name of the daughter of Zeus who was the goddess of wisdom, warfare, handicrafts, mathematics, and courage, among others. Herbert G. Gutman, The Black Family in Slavery and Freedom, 1750-1925 (1976). It starts with a young man falling in love with a girl. -George Burns, "Where does the family start? 7. If searching for a slave owner with the same surname of your ancestor fails, check marriage records for the slave owners. I love how you have documented the history of your own surname. Each is present in your body. Names. 42. Please submit permission requests for other use directly to the publisher. To date there are no book-length studies covering the naming of slaves across the Anglophone Atlantic, but Burton 1999 and Kaplan and Bernays 1997 provide useful entry-level discussions for the Caribbean and mainland United States, respectively. Finding the Slave Who Bore Philomene Daurat. There is also another historian, Gwendolyn Midlo Hall who did work on African ethnicities in Louisiana, you can read more of that here if you havent seen that yet: http://whitneyplantation.com/the-louisiana-slave-database.html, Again, I applaud you for doing the research on the history of the areas where your ancestors livedmany researchers dont realize how crucial that understanding is. 1. Users without a subscription are not able to see the full content on Whereas names withAfrican, classical, or other unique origins were popular during enslavement, --- often continuingfrom one generation to the next and creating a distinctive nomenclature unlike that of southern whites -- free black peopleoften used more traditionally Anglicized versions of their first names. Col. Joshua John Ward of Georgetown, South Carolina: 1,130 Known as "King of the Rice Planters," Ward had 1,130 enslaved Blacks on the Brookgreen plantation in South Carolina. After emancipation, he moved back with his mother, brothers and sisters and used the Cobbs surname. Washington: The 'blackest name' in America | The Seattle Times All of them are alive in this moment. In 1800, Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman were able to escape their terrible life of enslavement and were able to help other slaves trapped in a world of forced labour and grant them freedom once again due to the Underground Railroads that helped him, his partner Anna Murray Douglas and many other fugitives sneak away from the horrible . I hope youll sign up to receive my postsif you do, youll get a free PDF with some of my favorite tips! James) will have . See flier here. I am awar eof the different naming traditions practiced in that area and I thank you for sharing them here for my readers. FamilySearch Centers. Wonderful to have first hand account that help shine light on the attitudes of our ancestors. Private names used in the quarters included Abah, Bilah, Comba, Dibb, Juba, Kauchee, Mima, and Sena. 16 Most Famous Female Slaves of African American Origin This is another instance of oral history being a key component in tracing African American ancestry. In addition to time and place, a likely variable is whether the birth rate, in a severely overworked and maltreated population, was sufficient to ensure a relatively stable population over several generations, or whether the high mortality associated with slavery led to declining numbers and hence to the frequent acquisition of new slaves. Oxford Bibliographies Online is available by subscription and perpetual access to institutions. In the 1930s, ex-slave Martin Jackson explained why he chose his last name after Emancipation: The master's name was usually adopted by a slave after he was set free. Feel free to contact me directly if you have more questions or need some assistance. Evidence indicates that many enslaved parents named their children after the first generation or so of family members brought to America. With your explanations in mind, I will go back over a couple of family groups and re-assess the surname ambiguousness I have in my notes.