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

Picked by several celebrities (a couple of times even for a girl), adding up to an enthusiastically recommended choice. 43. Also largely unrecorded are the alternative names the enslaved used among themselves, sometimes called country names or basket names; they may also, according to African practice, have had multiple names over a lifetime. I love that your example shows two brothers, who came to different conclusions about their surnames. They are part of Records of the U.S. Customs Service . This is common. Hi Jann, Kaplan, Justin, and Anne Bernays. In freedom, Jean-Louis was known as Louis SEM or Louis FUSELIER until finally using SAM. As enslavement continued through the 1800s, African American culture included naming practices that were national in scope by the time of emancipation, and intimately related to the slave trade. Q. Some of the most common or popular last names in the 1800s included Robinson, Clark, and Smith. Flora, the name of the Roman goddess of flowers and spring, who enjoyed eternal youth, is one of the gently old-fashioned girls' flower names we think is due for a comebackalongside cousins Cora and Dora. In these cases, unless the name change had been passed down in the family by oral history, it would be impossible to trace the family back any further. I was called mostly Lewis Smith till after the war, although I was named Dick Lewis Smith After the War, I was wearing the name Lewis Smith, but I found the negroes were taking the names of their fathers, like the white folks. Theres always more to learn! The names they gave their children provide a valuable, if limited, index of that process over time. 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. Here are an even dozen, pretty much forgotten slanglike words or sayings from the 19th century, rediscovered while delving in the archives and with added guidance from James Maitman's 1891 . Peneus saved Daphne from Apollos romantic obsessions by transforming her into a laurel tree. It prohibited. -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?" Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one", "Friends are God's apologies for relations. Former slaves often made up surnames based on their occupations. In the. Through a video-based activity, students explore how Radical Reconstruction changed the nature of voting rights and democracy in the South. Going back a decade to the 1850 Slave Schedule, both William Wood and Samuel O. Dear Robyn, You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. My father would be 105 if he were alive. My great great grandfather in Mississippi took the surname of the previous SC enslaver, whose widow sold him away. Another common practice was to select a surname that fit the personality of an individual, such as Hardy or Rambler. Abara: Originating from the Igbo group of West Africa, Abara means 'spirit'. Nonetheless, this is a situation where two brothers selected different surnames. Students explore the legacies of the Reconstruction era today, reflect on the idea of democracy as a continuous process, and consider how they can best participate in the ongoing work of strengthening our democracy. The most common of 603 names of female Slaves were Bet, Mary, Jane, Hanna, Betty, Sarah, Phillis, Nan, Peg, and Sary. I think mostly about family separationas a mother now myself, the very idea that my dear child could be sold to who knows where, never to be seen again..just reduces me to tears anytime. My full name is Dick Lewis Barnett. This is such a well-written and informative post one that I know will open many eyes to the complexity of slave surnames, as well as many other aspects of the lives of the enslaved. Now, that parent's surname could very well be the surname of the most recent slaveholder or an earlier slaveholder. Drawing on extensive archival records, this digital memorial allows analysis of the ships, traders, and captives in the Atlantic slave trade. Testimony of Mollie Russell (widow of Phillip Fry), September 19, 1911: Q. Harriet Tubman and some of the slaves she helped free. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. In 1850, Ward. This entry was posted on Friday, August 28th, 2009 at 11:46 am and is filed under Civil War, Genealogy & DNA, Interviews. CLARKE - The name comes from 'clerk, a clergyman, a scholar, one who can read and write' and is most prevalent in England, where some 89,337 people are recorded with this surname. Q. After Emancipation, many former slaves adopted new names and surnames. Beginning in the early nineteenth century, more biblical names were given to enslavedchildren, a reflection of the widespread attempts to Christianize enslaved communities. Rodriguez (Rodriguez is Spanish for the son of Rodrigo. One ancestor was known as Baber Masse, Elizabeth SENET and Elisabeth Leveille in different documents. Once the slaves were freed they found they did need another name besides a given name. It comes from the same Greek root as 'ambrosia', the food of the gods, said to confer immortality. Many of the graves are unmarked or the markers have been damaged, but many descendents still live around here, so we hope to identify as many of the possible graves as we can. By country & year of birth. I worked for him as nurse for his children, and my full and correct name was OCTAVIA, but the family could not catch on to that long name and called me LOTTIE for short. I was called mostly Lewis Smith till after the war, although I was named Dick Lewis SmithDick was the brother of John Barnett whom I learned was my father . You can read about this in the following two posts on my blog. . Many took the surname of famous or celebrated people; such as 'Lincoln', 'Grant', and 'Washington' was very popular. Kindest regards, Archambeau. Who called you by that name and where was it done? Copy this link, or click below to email it to a friend. Students learn about President Andrew Johnson and the Congressional Republican's conflicting visions of how to rebuild the nation after the Civil War. Q. that lists the slaves along with their surnames. Evie (F) (English origin) means "life" or "lively". 2. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Five of the slaves were sold to the Washingtons and brought to Wessyngton. The origins of this last name date back to the pre-medieval period. common last names in the 1800s Patronymic surnames such as Jansen/Janssen, Hansen, and Petersen are the most common names in the far north (Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein). College, Advanced AA Gen Class, September 2011, AAHGS Annual Genealogy Conference, November 2008, Howard Comm. The link was not copied. An enslaved child sold away from their parents at a young age to the Deep South would probably have a different sense of naming than enslaved children who were able to grow up in the presence of their parents and extended family. Used by permission of the publisher. At your request I have finally made available for viewing past popular webinars! Elijah is derived from the Hebrew name Eliyahu, composed of the elements. Login Forgot . However, the common practice by slaveholders was to only use the given names of enslaved people in documents such as estate papers, court and deed records. Facing History & Ourselves, "Changing Names," last updated May 12, 2020. Emphasizes the giving and repeated use of names as a performative act of domination. Ones occupation also set the naming method, such as Sheperd, Cooper, or Smith. Just makes me sad for the human spirit that anyone, let alone hundreds of thousands of people could participate in it. Love you, 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. My Vimeo ON Demand video page lists six videos you can choose from to watch for 3 months ($15 each): -Finding the Last Slaveowner: Guidance and Case Studies, -Cluster Research: Using Groups of People to Find Your People, -Using Deed Records to Uncover Your Family, -Putting it All Together: Making Sense of All the Research You've Done and, -More Than Just a Name: Incorporating Social and Community History Into Your Research. Perhaps Wash Ellis registered under the name of one of his parents. Another slave named Bill who attended the sheep became Bill Shepherd. Many Welsh surnames follow this pattern, with Jones (from 'John's son) being the most common. He stated that he had always been known by his fathers surname Scott, even before he was freed. Following the emancipation of approximately 360,000 enslaved people in North Carolina, changes in African American names became indicative of a new value system and sense of self-identity among freedpeople. It means 'clerk' or 'secretary'. Distinctively Black names were thought to have risen from the Civil Rights and Black Power Movements, which promoted the use of names with connections to Africa. I have gotten so many requests over the years from those who couldn't make the live webinars so I hope you enjoy this new feature. American slave owners or slaveholders were owners of slaves in the United States which typically worked either as agriculture laborers or house servants. . This happened mostly on large plantations where several individuals had the same first names and a surname was used to distinguish them from one another. These cookies do not store any personal information. Fernsby, (Old English Origin) Derived from the old English words meaning "fern farmstead". [15] Alice Clifton (c. 1772-unknown), as an enslaved teenager, she was a defendant in an infanticide trial in 1787. It is from this myth that the plant genus, Phoebe is the Latin variation of the Greek name Phoibe, which derived from. Each is present in your body. This is true in some cases but not all. Start your year off with tips and strategies that can help you in the new year & beyond. These require Microsoft Word and a Windows platform. USA.gov, The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration Q. Where did you get the maiden name of Smith from? Prior to the emancipation of the American slaves in 1863, those African-Americans held in bondage had usually just one or two given names. 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. - Jane Howard, "Friends are God's apologies for relations." Thank you for your kind comment and I am glad my post helped some with the complicated reasons behind the surnames enslaved people had. They were all sold to different owners: Connell, Rose, Johnson, and Hughes respectively. Almost every major tome on slavery discusses slave naming practices in some form or fashion. Chapter 4 gives a brief and introductory outline of naming in the United States during slavery and its consequences in African American culture. I am the identical person who was named called and known as Dick Lewis Smith before the Civil War and during the Civil War and until I returned home after my military service . Harris: A patronymic meaning son of Harry. Societies. Although it is not widely known, some African Americans used surnames before they were emancipated. If a surname was needed, the slave owners family name might be used. Abebe: The genesis of this Ethiopian name is Amharic, and it means 'flower' or 'blossom'. After the war ended and slavery was abolished, they exercised their freedom by changing their names. All rights reserved. Is this the same woman Eliza I see living with Thomas Crenshaw in 1880 and 1900? They established and held on to their own cultural traditions in the small spaces that slavery afforded them. I have been unable to trace several of his siblings and now wonder if it might be because others did not take that name. While enslaved almost all had just one Christian name. Private names used in the quarters included Abah, Bilah, Comba, Dibb, Juba, Kauchee, Mima, and Sena. Louisiana, U.S., Slave Manumission Records, 1719-1820. I am not able to find any slaveholders in the Versailes area by the name of Ellis. Questions about slave naming intersect with some of the major debates in slavery studies (especially regarding Creolization and the formation of Atlantic Creoles) and can illuminate issues about the ethnicity of African slaves, the personhood and agency of those enslaved, the nature of kinship structures among the enslaved, and the survival of African cultural practices in the diaspora. Burton, Richard D.E. Names and Naming in Afro-Caribbean Culture. New West Indian Guide/Nieuwe West-Indische Gids 73 (1999): 3558. On all subsequent census records, he is listed as John Lewis. . Spanish areas had male Slave names as Francisco, Pedro, and Antonio; and for females: Maria, Isabella, and Juana. Benson 2006 is one of the few general discussions of slave names. This page is currently showing names ranked from 1 to 1000. They reflect an acculturation process by which generations of enslaved people, increasingly removed from the direct influence of their first enslaved African ancestors, adopted the conventions of their enslavers, eventually creating a culture and value system all their own. Wide-ranging survey of naming practices in the (mainly Anglophone) Atlantic world both during and after slavery. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries African-American slaves retained Africanisms in their naming practices. . Along with records from churches,manumission societies, enslavers, and estate settlements, these documents provide a vast pool of data from which to trace patterns and trends from the colonial period through emancipation. Please subscribe or login. She served that family for a long time, perhaps more clues to her past lie in his family roots. The table below shows the most common last names with statistics on the heritage and ancestry of those with the surname. When retained, a given name was generally changed to its full form: Thomas, not Tom; Elizabeth, not Bet. 1. Email:genealogy@slcl.org They identified 21 distinctly Black male names, among them biblical classics such as Abraham and Moses, and word names including Freeman and Prince. Middle Tennessee, where tobacco, cattle, and grain became the favored crops, held the . If we consider the diverse circumstances that the tragedy of slavery created, we can understand the reasons why. I was called by that name all the time I was with the Morrows. Toussaint Louverture (1743-1803), a former slave, he enslaved a dozen people himself before becoming a general and a leader of the Haitian Revolution. Introduction. Please share, in the comments below, examplesyou have come across of the surnames of enslaved people, especially if it was different from their last slaveholder. 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. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Thats a goal that I am working towards. Im jealous;) The common names there (Marie, Louise, etc) would test anyones genealogical skills, so I take my hat off to you. Ninety percent of them were African-American, a far higher black percentage than for any other common name. Are you thinking this woman Eliza Ellis was married to Wash Ellis? Baby Name Generator. 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. Im very familiar with the work of Gwendolyn Hall and Elizabeth Shown Mills.