. ", "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? Phillis Wheatley (May 8, 1753 - December 5, 1784) Source = Wikimedia. At her death when Thomas was ten, he was sold to Solomon Cobbs who lived nearby. Ive taken back reclaimed some of that lost memory, especially that of my enslaved ancestors. Robyn. Is this the same woman Eliza I see living with Thomas Crenshaw in 1880 and 1900? Fortunately, the French and Latin were excellent record keepers and the Catholics were obsessed with knowing the kinship of everyone. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. 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. Miracle, (Old English and Latin Origin) Derived from the first name Mauritius meaning "dark". Slavery in America was the legal institution of enslaving human beings, mainly Africans and African Americans. That alone can make if difficult to research an African- American family during those years. common last names for slaves in the 1800s. -Kendall Hailey, "If you look deeply into the palm of your hand, you will see your parents and all the generations of your ancestors. Most did not want to use their former owners surname, even through about 20% did use the slave owners name. Augustin Meaning: a descendant of Augustine Origin: English 2. Going back a decade to the 1850 Slave Schedule, both William Wood and Samuel O. Hi Pat, Testimony of Dick Lewis Barnett, May 17, 1911: I am 65 years of age; my post office address is Okmulgee Okla. Benson 2006 is one of the few general discussions of slave names. Thanks for writing this post! I'll illustrate transcribing deeds, show you how to find your county deed records on FamilySearch, and you will receive my PDF Beginner's Guide to Using Deed Records, a $12 value! CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW! The battle was long and hard-fought, with pro-slavery campaigners arguing that the slave trade was important for the British economy and claiming that enslaved Africans were happy and well-treated. Societies. 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. Q. In fact, it's not even past. European, Javanese and African and Indentured Servitude in First Contact and Early Colonization of Brazil, France and its Empire in the Indian Ocean, France and the British Isles from 1640 to 1789, George Montagu Dunk, Second Earl of Halifax, Green Atlantic: the Irish in the Atlantic World, Histories and Historiographies of the Atlantic World, Impact of the French Revolution on the Caribbean, The, Indentured Servitude in the Atlantic World, Indian, Internal Slave Migrations in the Americas, Interracial Marriage in the Atlantic World, Liverpool in The Atlantic World 1500-1833, Maritime Atlantic in the Age of Revolutions, The, Marriage and Family in the Atlantic World, Material Culture of Slavery in the British Atlantic, Money and Banking in the Atlantic Economy, Napolon Bonaparte and the Atlantic World, Nation and Empire in Northern Atlantic History, Native American Histories in North America, Native Americans and the American Revolution, People of African Descent in Early Modern Europe, Pets and Domesticated Animals in the Atlantic World. ", "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. Of course my mother wasnt a Bradley fore she married. What are the most popular last names in the UK? For descendants, I would add the substantial emotional impact of seeing an ancestor's name attached to a dollar value, or being valued in a list with silverware and cattle. Cook Cook has an Old English origin, and it means 'one who cooks' or 'one who sold cooked meat'. Thank you for your comment, I also see that in 1900 she is listed as widow with 1 child living, so you may have luck trying to find out who her child was. Users without a subscription are not able to see the full content on At your request I have finally made available for viewing past popular webinars! Even tiny steps are huge in someones life. You are the continuation of each of these people.". Enslaved peoplethemselves sometimes chose names denoting weather conditions at the time of their child's birth or some distinctive feature of his or her appearance. Mining the Census: Are You Finding Every Clue? He took his last enslaver surname. A Wessyngton slave named Bill who was the plantation's blacksmith was known as Billy the Smith during slavery. Also, the government seemed to be in a almighty hurry to have us get names. However, research byLisa D. Cook and colleagueshas revealed evidence of racialized names from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It was after emancipation on that I went back to work for Col. Morrow and where I got the name "Lottie," as already explained. . 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. 30 January 2022, [PAST EVENT], Eastern Standard Time: Join special guest genealogist Taneya Y. Koonce and I as we present our joint Zoom webinar, Organize Your Genealogy! Until recently, scholarly consensus was that early African American names did not differ significantly from those of white Americans. This phenomena makes research very complicated when you dont know the mothers surname. My father would be 105 if he were alive. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. I have done quite a bit of genealogy for my own family, and it was difficult enough, but what you are doing, is incredible work. I also have a Slavery and Freedom Collection available for $20. Besides the Morrows, whom else did you live with in Louisville? I did a post sometime ago about Slavery Studies, where I named some of the top books on the subject. His slaveholder was named David Humphries. Thank you so much for your kind words. It means 'bought land'. Thanks for commenting and continued luck in your research, The link was not copied. Index to "Descriptive Recruitment Lists of Volunteers for the United States Colored Troops for the State of Missouri, 1863-1865" (NARA Microfilm Publication M1894 - 6 rolls) For more information about the records covered in this index, please contact the History and Genealogy Department. Although enslavers often assigned names to newly acquired enslaved peoplethat were whimsical, satirical, or condescending in intent, the frequent appearance of classical names-Venus, Cato, Hercules, Bacchus, Pompey-reflect enslavers' own educations and libraries. On another branch, members of the Griffin family from around Campbell County VA all stuck together and are believed to have kept family bonds & name of their father after Emancipation. If the name is spelled Rodrigues, the name is Portuguese but has the same meaning) 3. . For more details, see the flier here, and you can purchase them here. I especially recommend Mother, Thy Name is Mystery! In many cases this is ignored and children use their fathers name! 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. Even that feels like something. Thank you for posing your question. My fathers name was John Crosby and he lived in the town of Geneva, Alabama, I had two brothers and one sister. 1. 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. . Picked by several celebrities (a couple of times even for a girl), adding up to an enthusiastically recommended choice. We had to register as someone, so we could be citizens. Many of these were names of heroesbut not Lincoln. If the slaveholder or another free white man was their father, many Creoles did use either is first or last name as a surname. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2006. 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. 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. Such resistance signified continual deep-rooted discontent with the condition of bondage and, in some places, such as the United States, resulted in ever-more-stringent mechanisms for social control and repression in slaveholding areas. Phone: 314-994-3300, Hours & Locations Comments/Suggestions314-994-3300, Copyright 2023. . 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. This potential brother had been sold to a local and remained there in SC. Wonderful to have first hand account that help shine light on the attitudes of our ancestors. I belonged to him until emancipation. See more details in the flier here and they are available for purchase for $10 . Wide-ranging survey of naming practices in the (mainly Anglophone) Atlantic world both during and after slavery. The second hour is hands-on, and I want you to bring the deeds you've found along with your questions. The brothers were sold when they were very young and remained with their last owners nearly thirty years. Gerald, however, is a Germanic name meaning ruler) 2. Surnames like Chantimel have disappeared, while names like Horsford and Ackie, coming from Antigua (where they are common), or Quarless, Dowden, Chandler, and Dottin from Barbados, have enriched Grenada's family history and cultural identity. It can be a difficult path, but just might be reachable. And my goodness, how kind of you to suggest a TED talk, maybe one of these days;) Genealogys pull is what initially pulled me into studying slavery, and also introduced me to the new understanding that historians are uncovering. 2023 Nameberry.com.Nameberry is a registered trademark of Nameberry, LLC. For example, I know of one Louisiana family whose surname of Poulard evolved from a ancestor of the Poular nation(aka Fulani). . ", "Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city;)", "Where does the family start? These people are referred to as slaves, or as enslaved people. Many names, whether African derived or English, refer to birth circumstances, including both the ubiquitous day-names, which derive from the West African Akan-Twi language group, and others such as birth order and time of birth (e.g., day of the week, month, or season). 7. I am a farmer. 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. Mary Deborah Petite, "1836 Facts about the Alamo and the Texas War for Independence". Anouilh. Ebba: One of the more unique girl names from the 1800s. She was the great patroness-goddess of the city of Athens. Post Author: Post published: 18 avril 2022; Post Category: . Wheatley was traded into slavery at the age of 7 or 8 and imported to North America. 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. . Born in Union County, South Carolina, he was sold to his last enslaver in 1858 and then brought to Mississippi. The 2000 U.S. Census counted 163,036 people with the surname Washington. This old French surname has Germanic origin, and means 'noble'. 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. Each is present in your body. I am the applicant for pension on account of having served in Co. B. I was called by that name all the time I was with the Morrows. "While African-American genealogical research in many ways is like all genealogical research, the era of slavery makes the task especially challenging. Women tended to have two names, and slaves often just had one. 5. Thus, the patronymic surname can be effectively regarded as "keeper of the peace." This phenomenon is not unheard of with African American surnames. I have been a researcher, writer, lecturer and teacher for over twenty years. Kaplan, Justin, and Anne Bernays. This event is $25. They cut it off from OCTAVIA. Search 30 million given names. He identified father, mother and siblings in a Freedmans bank deposit in 1873, when he was already in New York City. Most common last names names: 1-1000 | 1001-2000 | 2001-3000 | 3001-4000 | 4001-5000 Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Join my mailing list below to learn about upcoming webinars. Bernard Meaning: brave warrior Origin: French 4. Most Popular African Last Names Or Surnames. I presume no death certificate for her survives? Besides the Morrows, whom else did you live with in Louisville? Q. A. Lottie Smith was my name and what they called me before I met Phillip and was married to him. Spencer is a name that has everything: it's both distinguished sounding and accessible, dignified but Spencer Tracy-like friendly. 19. And this example from another pension file shows how even the given name of this enslaved woman was held under little regard: Testimony of Mollie Russell (widow of Phillip Fry), September 19, 1911: Q. 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. "The past is not dead. 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 . Claudia Bautista,Santa Monica, Calif. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. . Practices undoubtedly varied, and different archival sources may yield different conclusions. Through a video-based activity, students examine Americas struggle for a stronger democracy during Reconstruction and today. Thank you for your kind comment and I am glad my post helped some with the complicated reasons behind the surnames enslaved people had. 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. Hi Jim, Hi Donna, Other common surnames included Jones, Matthews, Sinclair, and Bennett, Price, and Gray.. 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 . The fifty most common Victorian surnames in England and Wales for 1853 are listed in alphabetical order below. I did not even check the 1850 slave schedule. South Atlantic Creole A Spanish America After Independence, 1825-1900, Tudor and Stuart Britain in the Wider World, 1485-1685, Warfare, Medicine, and Disease in the Atlantic World. Toussaint Louverture (1743-1803), a former slave, he enslaved a dozen people himself before becoming a general and a leader of the Haitian Revolution. 3. ", "If you look deeply into the palm of your hand, you will see your parents and all the generations of your ancestors. James) will have . I was only three years old when she died. Tell me the name you were called before you met Phillip Fry? Olympic speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno might inspire some parents. There are a wide array of sources that provide us with slave surnames, from the slave narratives and interviews, to freedmans bank cards, runaway ads and Southern Claims Commission records. Since those are the countries from which many of America's original settlers came, it's hardly surprising. I am searching for information about a woman named Eliza Ellis, from Versailles KY or that area. 1. See flier for more details. Edmon S. Conner Recalls About His Career", "Law and the Cultural Production of Race and Racialized Systems of Oppression", "Runaway Slaves and Servants in Colonial Virginia", Slavery in the Courtroom: An Annotated Bibliography of American Cases, "Soldier of Furtune: John Smith before Jamestown", "YSTUMLLYN, JOHN ('Jack Black') (d. 1786), gardener and land steward | Dictionary of Welsh Biography", "Strong, Jonathan (c. 17471773), de facto freed slave", "Juan Francisco Manzano | Slave Narratives | The MoAD Salon | MoAD - Museum of the African Diaspora", "Relatos sobre la India Juliana.
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