Tell me the name you were called before you met Phillip Fry? Slave Names Below are some best cute and catchy slave names: Infirm Mite Lunn Amanda Walter Garner Hannah Delia Bastard Inferior Weevil George O'Hanlon Jordan John Owen Rachel Fetid Spider Betty Nathan York John Wright Wicked Whelp Thornton Dick Field Robert Dick William Hunter William Sam Kiner Augustus Dick a/k/a Richard Ferguson Foul Beast Q. 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. A. Mr. Thomas Jefferson of Louisville, bought me when I was three years of age from Mr. Dearing. Search 30 million given names. . "The past is not dead. On the 30 rolls of NARA Microfilm Publication M1895, Slave Manifests of Coastwise Vessels Filed at New Orleans, Louisiana, 1807-1860 (30 rolls), are reproduced manifests filed with the collector of customs at New Orleans, Louisiana, of slaves transported in coastwise trade to or from New Orleans during the period 1807-1860. Eugene D. Genovese, Roll, Jordan, Roll: The World the Slaves Made (1974). The, 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. Copy this link, or click below to email it to a friend. 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. -William Faulkner, "Call it a clan, call it a network, all it a tribe, call it a family. Thank you, my dear friend, for adding this about enslaved people owned in the Caribbean is really important, as some of the customs were certainly different. By examining periods of violence during the Reconstruction era, students learn about the potential backlash to political and social change. One thing we should keep in mind is that the practice of referring to enslaved people by a given name only was a part of the attempt of the system of slavery to dehumanize them..to other them. Robyn. I have been unable to trace several of his siblings and now wonder if it might be because others did not take that name. Love you, All rights reserved. You already know the rich historical terrain of FPOC in Louisiana, what terrific grounds for family research. It means 'raven'. -Elbert Hubbard, "Families are like fudge; mostly sweet with a few nuts." This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. USA.gov, The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration EDHASA, 2006, 359 pages, (. However, a small change to searching on C?lbert, which accounts for the variations in spelling expands that initial list to 877 enslaved people owned by people with those names. Robyn, Unraveling the origins of FPOC and slaves in Francophone Louisiana takes some thinking outside the fact, meticulous research ,familiarity with the local culture, history and a bit of serendipity on your side. My great grandfather Wilson Percival was born in South Carolina and I believe he took his surname from last slave owners family. Many of these were names of heroesbut not Lincoln. My father once told me his grandfather ran away from the Carrington place and changed his name to Williams. Ho Joanne, 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. 25 Haitian Last Names That Reflect The Country's Unique Culture And 3. The slave schedules of 1860 Arkansas do not give the names of the slaves. In another case Sukey Ann and he 4 children were manumitted by their Ashby owner with only their first names. This entry was posted on Friday, August 28th, 2009 at 11:46 am and is filed under Civil War, Genealogy & DNA, Interviews. Several of the other slaves were sold to various slave owners. Through DNA matches, I believe I have recently found a brother of my mothers great grandfather. What remains utterly amazing to me is that in the worst of circumstances, and in spite of every attempt to crush any idea that slaves were anything other than commodities, slaveholders did not succeed. Robyn. 782 Lists of Slave owners with names of slaves Tamme, 766 Tom, 766 West, 766 Will, 766 Barker, Nathaniel Harry, 591, 700, 746, 767 Barkley, Barbary Grace, 651 This event is $25. This unique-sounding French last name means 'bold' or 'daring'. I communicate with them on Facebook. Another slave named Bill who attended the sheep became Bill Shepherd. Well, I got to thinking about all us slaves that was going to take the name Fitzpatrick. Proving their identity as former soldiers often revealed some of the most detailed explanations for former slaves choice of surnames. Slave Names In The Americas - Black Voice News 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. 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. Join my mailing list below to receive my posts and get a free PDF with some of my favorite tips! 5. All of them are alive in this moment. Harriet Tubman and some of the slaves she helped free. Toussaint Louverture (1743-1803), a former slave, he enslaved a dozen people himself before becoming a general and a leader of the Haitian Revolution. It can be a difficult path, but just might be reachable. Data from the 2010 Census tells a different story. New surnames were created from a local regions name such as Smithfield the name taken might be Smith or Field. Born in Union County, South Carolina, he was sold to his last enslaver in 1858 and then brought to Mississippi. Robyn. Most Common African-American Surnames: Origin & Meanings This reading contains quoted text not authored by Facing History & Ourselves. One former slave Bill Scott from Wessyngton reported in his pension application for military service that when he enlisted in the Union Army officials put down his surname as Washington. One given name the childs family selected and kept secret and one the child was known by given by the slave owner. Each is present in your body. Other common surnames included Jones, Matthews, Sinclair, and Bennett, Price, and Gray.. Besides the Morrows, whom else did you live with in Louisville? Danish West Indies, Denmark, Records of Enslaved People, 1672-1917 It is these single names that have been most often studied. ", "Case Overview: Ann Williams, Ann Maria Williams, Tobias Williams, & John Williams v. George Miller & George Miller Jr", "Augustine Tolton: From slavery to being the first black priest", "Cornish (and Other) Personal Names from the 10th Century Bodmin Manumissions", "Gospel-book with added Cornish records of manumissions ('The Bodmin Gospels' or 'St Petroc Gospels')", "Following Brigid's Way The Irish Catholic", Charity Folks, Lost Royalty, and the Bishop Family of Maryland and New York, "The Untold Story of How an Escaped Slave Helped Sir Francis Drake Circumnavigate the Globe", "Slave's 400-year-old grave in Dutch Jewish cemetery now a Black pilgrimage site" by Cnaan Lipshiz, Times of Israel, 6 February 2021, Roman Theater and Society: E. Togo Salmon Papers I, "Professor Says He Has Solved a Mystery Over a Slave's Novel", "Day of history to unfold in Muthill museum", "Cornelius Tacitus, The History, Book I, chapter 13", "An Old Actor's Memories; What Mt. Since those are the countries from which many of America's original settlers came, it's hardly surprising. You can read the introductory maps for a high-level guided explanation, view the timeline and chronology of . Private names used in the quarters included Abah, Bilah, Comba, Dibb, Juba, Kauchee, Mima, and Sena. He was a slave owner and, in 1800 as Chief Justice of New Brunswick, he supported slavery in defiance of British practice at the time. There are issues, too, about how to interpret the recorded names, which have been classified in different ways depending on researchers interests. In my research so far, I have found very little evidence of white Culbert slaveholders only three cases so far. Ninety percent of them were African-American, a far higher black percentage than for any other common name. Caps statement implies that choosing his own surname was a part of exercising his newfound freedom. 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. Expand or collapse the "in this article" section, Slave Names and Naming in the Anglophone Atlantic, Slave Names on Emancipation and after Slavery, Expand or collapse the "related articles" section, Expand or collapse the "forthcoming articles" section, African Retailers and Small Artisans in the Atlantic World, Alexander von Humboldt and Transatlantic Studies, Atlantic New Orleans: 18th and 19th Centuries, Black Atlantic in the Age of Revolutions, The, Chinese Indentured Servitude in the Atlantic World, Cities and Urbanization in Portuguese America, Colonial Governance in the Atlantic World, Comparative Indigenous History of the Americas, Criminal Transportation in the Atlantic World, Domestic Production and Consumption in the Atlantic World, Economy and Consumption in the Atlantic World. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Each name was a clue to her origins. The surname issue really presents huge challenges for those of us doign this research, but you soulnd as though you are making headway. So far Ive found no one who can give me any information about how these people assumed the Culbert surname. This blog is where I share family history methods, resources, tips and advice, with an emphasis on slave research, slavery and its aftermath. Place names that were disproportionately popular among Black Americans in history include Boston, Jamaica, York, and Africa. Eliza Moore (1843 - January 21, 1948) Source = Pinimg. And now that it's been chosen by Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale, it could take off as their first son's nameKingstonhas. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Beginning in the early nineteenth century, more biblical names were given to enslavedchildren, a reflection of the widespread attempts to Christianize enslaved communities. 6. 77th U.S. Col Inf and Co. D. U.S. Col H Art under the name Lewis Smith which was the name I wore before the days of slavery were over. Harris: A patronymic meaning son of Harry. Others who wanted no connection to their former owners used surnames like Freeman or Freedman. Join me as I present this NEW webinar that covers why we miss our ancestors in these records and presents numerous strategies to assist in finding every clue in census records. What were common last names in the 1800s? - TeachersCollegesj Surname origins reveal a complex history of slavery in The Bahamas For him, this meant claiming his new identity as a freedman and a citizen. Most Common Black Last Names in the United States - Name Census Slavery. 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. Unfortunately, I am not knowledgeable enough about African and Caribbean research in the areas you name. 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. Slaves are identified by given name under their masters. Index by slave owner's name | Surname unknown or illegible. One of the largest sources are the Civil War pension records of the almost 200,000 black men who served in the US Army and Navy. 140+ Victorian Baby Names | Names from the 1800s | Peanut He identified father, mother and siblings in a Freedmans bank deposit in 1873, when he was already in New York City. 1. College, Advanced AA Gen Class, September 2011, AAHGS Annual Genealogy Conference, November 2008, Howard Comm. How lucky you were to find that Freedmans Bank document! Recognizable patterns of change in names and naming practices are evident from the mid-eighteenth century to the early nineteenth century and on through the 1860s. A. Mr. Thomas Jefferson of Louisville, bought me when I was three years of age from Mr. Dearing. Popular Last Names in the 1920s Gatsby Flapper Girl - Jane Howard, "Friends are God's apologies for relations." 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. common last names for slaves in the 1800s. The campaign in Britain to abolish slavery began in the 1760s, supported by both black and white abolitionists. Genealogy becomes so much more than just names and dates, it really feels like a true passion indeed. Isaiah derives from the Hebrew Yeshayahu, containing the elements. 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. He was sold to my master William Orr and he always went by the name Edward Orr after that.. 1-86-NARA-NARA or 1-866-272-6272, Finding Aids for the National Archives at Atlanta, National Archives Catalog (National Archives Identifier 2767350). 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. ", "If you can't get rid of the skeleton in your closet, you might as well make it dance! I make extensive use of tables for organization, analysis and citation in my research, and they have proven very popular with genealogists. Fernsby, (Old English Origin) Derived from the old English words meaning "fern farmstead". 40. -George Burns, "Where does the family start? Bradley was the last man owned em. 18. This is true in some cases but not all. Slave rebellions | History, Examples, & Facts | Britannica But once freed most immediately chose surnames, with or without keeping their accustomed name. If the former slave had been befriended or assisted in getting established after the Civil War, they might have taken that persons name. 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. Louis (M) (English origin) means "famous warrior". Who called you by that name and where was it done? The link was not copied. Numerous historical sources confirm that enslaved people had surnames that they used among themselves and in many cases were known by their slaveholder. Farley, (English Origin) Victorian-era last names meaning "fern woodland". Rank. 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. "Slave revolts in Puerto Rico: conspiracies and uprisings, 17951873"; by: Guillermo A. Baralt; Markus Wiener Publishers; harvnb error: no target: CITEREFAssociation_of_Muslim_Social_ScientistsInternational_Institute_of_Islamic_Thought2008 (, sfnm error: no target: CITEREFSmith2001 (, sfnm error: no target: CITEREFWhite2016 (, sfn error: no target: CITEREFBrands2012 (, sfnm error: no target: CITEREFMcFeely1981 (, Last edited on 22 February 2023, at 03:19, sued her master for her freedom on that ground, United States Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, Diego Pacheco Tllez-Girn Gmez de Sandoval, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, South Carolina's 5th congressional district, List of the last surviving American slaves, Timeline of abolition of slavery and serfdom, Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery, National Museum of African American History and Culture, "What is the divine purpose for sending prophets? Surnames Used by African American Slaves - Wessyngton Robyn. Several names have been added under the letter representing the person's last name. I would also recommend Elizabeth Shown Mills various case studies on enslaved people in Louisiana, which you can find at her website at https://www.historicpathways.com/articles.html. This topic interests me greatly and Id like to do more research. The brothers were sold when they were very young and remained with their last owners nearly thirty years. 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. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. So just a few things to be aware of when researching any African-American ancestors. I was called by that name all the time I was with the Morrows. Most common last names names: 1-1000 | 1001-2000 | 2001-3000 | 3001-4000 | 4001-5000 Thomas Black Cobbs was owned by a small slave owner Catherine Black. This causes many researchers to wrongly conclude that enslaved people did not have surnames until after emancipation, which was not the case. A. By country & year of birth. Index by slave owner's name | Surname unknown or illegible The most common of 603 names of female Slaves were Bet, Mary, Jane, Hanna, Betty, Sarah, Phillis, Nan, Peg, and Sary. Your current browser may not support copying via this button. I hope youll sign up to receive my postsif you do, youll get a free PDF with some of my favorite tips! Thanks for commenting and continued luck in your research, Our headquarters are located at: 89 South Street, Suite 401, Boston, MA 02111. Spencer is a name that has everything: it's both distinguished sounding and accessible, dignified but Spencer Tracy-like friendly. Emphasizes the giving and repeated use of names as a performative act of domination. 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. Thank you for your comment, The idea was for the children to enter the inhumane system of slavery protected by a sense of Selfhood and history. 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. I was only three years old when she died. One name you find frequently used was Freeman or Freedmen to declare their new freedom. If a surname was needed, the slave owners family name might be used. I liked the name better than Octavia, and so I took it with me to Danville, and was never called anything else there than that name. Start your year off with tips and strategies that can help you in the new year & beyond. Its knowledge that I think most Americans (not even just white Americans) dont have and it is endlessly fascinating and sobering both at the same time. As a newspaper that publishes in the spirit of the Black Press, the Black Voice News has given voice to the voiceless and shined a light on systemic inequities and disparities since 1972. A. Lottie Smith was my name and what they called me before I met Phillip and was married to him. 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. No superior alternative has yet been found. A valuable and incisive discussion, both theoretically and historically informed, of slave naming in two African societies, the Caribbean, and the American South. Bernard Meaning: brave warrior Origin: French 4. 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. is for you. Just makes me sad for the human spirit that anyone, let alone hundreds of thousands of people could participate in it. Enslaved people often transferred such names to later generations in modified form or relied on African naming traditions, such as "day names" or names reflecting the order of birth among siblings. The following is a list of historical people who were enslaved at some point during their lives, in alphabetical order by first name. 1. Although it is not widely known, some African Americans used surnames before they were emancipated. . Names from the Bible were another common practice, for given and surnames. State of residence is Missouri unless otherwise noted. Injurious Names: Naming, Disavowal, and Recuperation in Contexts of Slavery and Emancipation. In The Anthropology of Names and Naming. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2006. Claudia Bautista,Santa Monica, Calif. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. . This article is from the Encyclopedia of North Carolina edited by William S. Powell. I belonged to him until emancipation. CAs Push to Restore Voting Rights to System-Impacted Individuals Still in Custody, Eli Lilly to Cap Out-of-Pocket Insulin Costs, Asm. At her death when Thomas was ten, he was sold to Solomon Cobbs who lived nearby. Political Participation in the Nineteenth Century Atlantic Portugal and Brazile in the Age of Revolutions, Poverty in the Early Modern English Atlantic, Reconstruction, Democracy, and United States Imperialism, Settlement and Region in British America, 1607-1763, Slavery in British and American Literature, Slavery in Dutch America and the West Indies, Slavery in North America, The Growth and Decline of. Kindest regards, The top 5 most common Hispanic last names from the 1920s are: 1. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. The Language of Names. 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 second hour is hands-on, and I want you to bring the deeds you've found along with your questions. There are certainly methods you can used to try to verify some of the storyyou can look for Carrington and Williams slaveholders in the area in which your ancestor lived in the 1870 census. Even that feels like something. Societies. slave rebellions, in the history of the Americas, periodic acts of violent resistance by Black slaves during nearly three centuries of chattel slavery. 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 . Jamaica Slavery FamilySearch 3. A Wessyngton slave named Bill who was the plantation's blacksmith was known as Billy the Smith during slavery. Testimony of Dick Lewis Barnett, May 17, 1911: I am 65 years of age; my post office address is Okmulgee Okla. In my own family history, on my Yarborough side, I believe I have uncovered a pattern that my formerly-enslaved great-grandparents, Calvin and Precilla YARBOROUGH may have used in naming their children. Thanks for adding your very experienced voice to the conversation. 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. 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. . For personal use and not for further distribution. [15] Alice Clifton (c. 1772-unknown), as an enslaved teenager, she was a defendant in an infanticide trial in 1787. common last names in the 1800s - conference.ase.ro . Top 100 Southern Surnames or Last Names With Meanings - FirstCry Parenting After emancipation, they all used the Terry surname because their families had been with the white Terry family for generations. The first published African-American poet & author Phillis Wheatley was born in West Africa. John C. Inscoe, "Carolina Slave Names: An Index to Acculturation," Journal of Southern History 59 (November 1983). Relish, (Old French Origin) Derived from relaisse meaning "flavor or taste". I was bornthe child of Phillis Houston, slave of Sol Smith. Many of the former slaves and some free people of color took the first name of their father, mother and sometimes former slaveowner as their last. My mother's name was Octavia Smith and it was from her that I got it but where the name came from to her I never knew. Archambeau. Hi Pat, That alone can make if difficult to research an African- American family during those years. -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?" It was after emancipation on that I went back to work for Col. Morrow and where I got the name Lottie, as already explained. 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. If you can identify your ancestor's master, this source will prove of tremendous value to your research. The origins of this last name date back to the pre-medieval period. Abebe: The genesis of this Ethiopian name is Amharic, and it means 'flower' or 'blossom'. 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.