The Washingtons of Wessyngton Plantation: Stories of My Familys Journey to Freedom, A Thank You Letter from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, Plantation Records Key Link to African American Past . Introduction. Hi Susan, 18. Alfred Francis Russell (1817-1884), 10th President of Liberia. You could not be signed in, please check and try again. Search 30 million given names. "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? . Besides the Morrows, whom else did you live with in Louisville? 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. 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. Your current browser may not support copying via this button. My father would be 105 if he were alive. A. 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. I am searching for information about a woman named Eliza Ellis, from Versailles KY or that area. . Middle Tennessee, where tobacco, cattle, and grain became the favored crops, held the . 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. The names that were brought together to form "Geffery" were "Gaufrid" (territory-peace), "Godafrid" (god-peace), and "Galfridus" (song-peace). For more details, see the flier here, and you can purchase them here. 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. Surnames. My great grandfather Wilson Percival was born in South Carolina and I believe he took his surname from last slave owners family. They called me "OCK". A great and timely article. How lucky you were to find that Freedmans Bank document! Spanish areas had male Slave names as Francisco, Pedro, and Antonio; and for females: Maria, Isabella, and Juana. You can read about this in the following two posts on my blog. No, I dont know to whom she belonged before she was brought from Virginia to Kentucky. Login Forgot . But I tell you, trying to document that all those names refer to the same person is hard, hard work! It starts with a young man falling in love with a girl. Fortunately, the French and Latin were excellent record keepers and the Catholics were obsessed with knowing the kinship of everyone. 40. Rodriguez (Rodriguez is Spanish for the son of Rodrigo. And please do share posts that interest you. Testimony of Mollie Russell (widow of Phillip Fry), September 19, 1911: Q. Trinidad and Tobago. The following documents are excerpts from government records in which Dick Barnett and Mollie (Smith) Russell explain when and why they changed their names. Once the slaves were freed they found they did need another name besides a given name. . After I had returned to Louisville from Danville, My sister, Lizzie White, got to calling me Mollie, and it was with her that the name started. I am generally called Cap Sherrod but I was married under Cap Ross and have voted under the name Ross, A good many people call me Cap Sherrod because I belonged to Sherrod but I calls myself Cap Ross.. Is this the work of the evil spirits or from my bad karma? Is this my fate!To worsen matters, a given new European label applied only to one aspect of the nature (whereas his/her original name referred to a total identity) of the enslaved and this was an effective way to try to fragment a victims mindset. Were there any famous slaves? One of my grandfathers in Africa was called Jeaceo, and so I decided to be Jackson. Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts South Atlantic Creole Archipelagos . I also meant to email you and tell you how I enjoyed your article in the last NGSQ. . I am an engineer by day, but my true passion lies in genealogy. This article is from the Encyclopedia of North Carolina edited by William S. Powell. Elijah is derived from the Hebrew name Eliyahu, composed of the elements. Some of the most common or popular last names in the 1800s included Robinson, Clark, and Smith. 2019 (cited under the Anglophone Caribbean) includes a good general introduction to slave naming. Cora: We first fell in love with this short baby girl's name from Downton Abbey, but Cora was already popular in the 1800s, meaning 'maiden' or 'good'. "While African-American genealogical research in many ways is like all genealogical research, the era of slavery makes the task especially challenging. 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. It was after emancipation on that I went back to work for Col. Morrow and where I got the name Lottie, as already explained. Others were more promiscuous. Special slave censuses were kept in the early 1800s. Melvin, The quote below, from a Southern Claims Commission file, is one of the most powerful and one of my favorites to use in lectures: I enlisted under Ross because that was my fathers name. Alfred "Teen" Blackburn (1842-1951), one of the last living survivors of slavery in the United States who had a clear recollection of it. Archambeau. I did a post sometime ago about Slavery Studies, where I named some of the top books on the subject. The origins of this last name date back to the pre-medieval period. I love how you have documented the history of your own surname. Besides the Morrows, whom else did you live with in Louisville? Thank you for your kind comment and I am glad my post helped some with the complicated reasons behind the surnames enslaved people had. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW! Ethereal and delicate, Cassandra was in the Top 70 throughout the 1990s but is now descending in popularity. Toussaint Louverture (1743-1803), a former slave, he enslaved a dozen people himself before becoming a general and a leader of the Haitian Revolution. Wesley is one of a group of W-starting surname names reminiscent of the Old West that are making a comeback -- though it's not as well used as it was in the 1970s, when he ranked as high as Number 66. How did you ever come by the name of "Mollie"? Remember me. 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. 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. The difficulties include using records that provide no surnames, the constant sale and breakup of families, and the lack of identification of fathers. All children of a female slave were automatically slaves, considered as belonging to the owner of the mother. . Enslaved women were raped, creating children with white fathers who in most cases did not claim them and even sold them away. As a result, many slaves used the surnames of their owners wifes family. Now, that parents surname could very well be the surname of the most recent slaveholder or an earlier slaveholder. Although it is not widely known, some African Americans used surnames before they were emancipated. Encyclopedia of North Carolina, University of North Carolina Press. Place names that were disproportionately popular among Black Americans in history include Boston, Jamaica, York, and Africa. I belonged to him until emancipation. this page. 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. This topic interests me greatly and Id like to do more research. For more information about the records covered in this index,please contact the History and Genealogy Department. Isaiah derives from the Hebrew Yeshayahu, containing the elements. Spencer is a name that has everything: it's both distinguished sounding and accessible, dignified but Spencer Tracy-like friendly. 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. This database is a compilation of information on over four thousand slaves from Louisiana who were involved in manumission (the formal emancipation from slavery) between 1719 and 1820. Robyn. The different spellings are due to the non-consistent spelling rules in Norway in the 1700s and 1800s. If the name is spelled Rodrigues, the name is Portuguese but has the same meaning) 3. Chery Meaning: derived from the Latin Cariacus, which means "land belonging to Cariu"; darling Origin: French 5. Surnames (not always those of former owners) would then be adopted as family names by former slaves and their descendants. It starts with a young man falling in love with a girl. Corbin Corbin has an Old English origin. The brothers were sold when they were very young and remained with their last owners nearly thirty years. I just cannot imagine (thankfully) the idea of my name being changed with every new owner, with not having any idea of what my parents surnames were, of having a white father but not being able to have a father/child relationship with himand all the other myriad of circumstances that enslaved people faced. All rights reserved. Dear Robyn, Some of these examples come from the wonderful book, Voices of Emancipation: I served [in the War] as Henry Lock, the Lock being my old Massas name but since the War I have taken name of Rollie., [Edward] was owned by Drury Stovall and went by the name of Edward Stovall. This old French surname has Germanic origin, and means 'noble'. Just go to my Vimeo page and make your selection. My great great grandfather in Mississippi took the surname of the previous SC enslaver, whose widow sold him away. Many enslaved people were allowed to keep their original African names or names assigned them elsewhere (as reflected by the frequency of Spanish and Portuguese names among the first generation of enslaved people in the Carolinas.) . Dorothy, Doris or Dora: Meaning 'gift of God', this Victorian girl's name was popular in the 19th century. Examples include: Francois, Jean, Pierre, and Leon for men; and Manon, Delphine, Marie Louise, Celeste, and Eugenie for women. 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. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. . 1760-1810 Persons declared to be "white by law" or "free" (part 1), (part 2) at Jamaican Family Search Genealogy Research Library. Thomas mother, younger brothers and sisters remained with the Black family. I belonged to him until emancipation. Famous name bearers: many King Louis of France, Sandra Bullock's son and actor Louis Partridge. Besides the Morrows, whom else did you live with in Louisville? Q. Used by permission of the publisher. Even many given names of ancestors eventually became a surname, such as Todd or William. . They cut it off from OCTAVIA. - Jane Howard, "Friends are God's apologies for relations." You can use the links below to view more common surnames. Over time, East Tennessee, hilly and dominated by small farms, retained the fewest number of slaves. . For example, Roll, Jordan,Roll has an entire chapter called The Naming of Cats, discussing slave names and The Slave Community has a very good chapter called The Slave Family. Two other books I like are Been In The Storm So Long by Leon Litwick (pgs 247-248)and Joining PLaces: Slave Neighborhoods in the Old South by Anthony Kaye. 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. Where did you get the maiden name of Smith from? Thanks for commenting and continued luck in your research, They cut it off from OCTAVIA. Newly emancipated slaves also frequently chose new first names, discarding those associated with slavery. how the surnames former slaves had were connected to their experiences in slavery. The most common origin for surnames is that enslaved people initially used the surname of either their mother or their father, if they knew what those names were. I am a farmer. 6. A krio from.Freetown Sierra Leone. A. Lottie Smith was my name and what they called me before I met Phillip and was married to him. One thing for sure, historians are always expanding our knowledge on this topic.BTW, I am a big fan of your website and your work in the field! A. Lottie Smith was my name and what they called me before I met Phillip and was married to him. The surname issue really presents huge challenges for those of us doign this research, but you soulnd as though you are making headway. Delva Or, the Slaves were given numbers or classical Greek names. 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. In small communities when slaves were sold, they were often bought by someone in the area. The name.Auber.is also.in.Haiti and.is of.French orign. Finding State Laws About Slaves and Free Blacks, More Suggestions for White Slaveholder Descendants, http://justthinking130.blogspot.com/2009/09/calvin-r-yarborough-where-it-all-began.html, http://justthinking130.blogspot.com/2013/11/many-rivers-to-cross-my-priscilla.html, https://www.historicpathways.com/articles.html, http://whitneyplantation.com/the-louisiana-slave-database.html. Perhaps this caused some Slaves to ask: Am I my new name or am I still my old name? Thanks for this very thoughtful article. by John C. Inscoe, 2006; Revised May 2022 by NC Government & Heritage Library. A. Lottie Smith was my name and what they called me before I met Phillip and was married to him. Picked by several celebrities (a couple of times even for a girl), adding up to an enthusiastically recommended choice. 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. Oxford Bibliographies Online is available by subscription and perpetual access to institutions. CAs Push to Restore Voting Rights to System-Impacted Individuals Still in Custody, Eli Lilly to Cap Out-of-Pocket Insulin Costs, Asm. Osprey Publishing 2008. It had always been passed down in the family that Thomas has been owned by the Blacks. These people are referred to as slaves, or as enslaved people. A. Slavery. Each is present in your body. See flier for details; cost of this event is $25. Abara: Originating from the Igbo group of West Africa, Abara means 'spirit'. Rounding out the Top 40, here are the next 30 most common names among African-Americans and Caribbean people: Taylor (Jayceon Terrel Taylor "The Game") Wilson (Charlie Wilson) Moore (Shemar Moore) White (Barry White) Lewis (Carl Lewis) Walker (Jimmie J. J. Walker) Green (Al Green) Thompson (Kenan Thompson) Washington (Denzel Washington) The Genealogy Source Table Collection includes 10 blank, editable source tables for death certificates, city directories, obituaries and funeral programs. There are many factors to consider in determining what surnames African Americans used. Many took the surname of famous or celebrated people; such as Lincoln, Grant, and Washington was very popular. The name James has been a popular Victorian male names in the 1800s. College, Advanced AA Gen. Class, September 2009, Alice, Robyn and Lajoye, CM AAHGS, September 2017, Robyn and Andrea, NGS Conference, May 2014. Thank you so much for your kind words. Unique Surnames to Grenada. It prohibited. Join my mailing list below to learn about upcoming webinars. Robyn. Edited by Gabriele vom Bruck and Barbara Bodenhorn, 178-199. Former slaves also interchanged surnames on census records. My full name is Dick Lewis Barnett. Hi Pat, 2. Another slave named Bill who attended the sheep became Bill Shepherd. A favorite of British novelists including Evelyn Waugh and P. G. Wodehouse, Ambrose has an air of blooming well-being and upper-class erudition. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Surely the hundreds of black Culbert people living today cannot all be connected to those three cases. Five of the slaves were sold to the Washingtons and brought to Wessyngton. Copy this link, or click below to email it to a friend. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Students examine the factors that led many northerners to turn against federal policies passed during the Reconstruction era that protected freedpeople. For personal use and not for further distribution. Now, that parent's surname could very well be the surname of the most recent slaveholder or an earlier slaveholder. Other common surnames included Jones, Matthews, Sinclair, and Bennett, Price, and Gray.. This unique-sounding French last name means 'bold' or 'daring'. After emancipation, he moved back with his mother, brothers and sisters and used the Cobbs surname. College, Advanced AA Gen Class, September 2011, AAHGS Annual Genealogy Conference, November 2008, Howard Comm. Feel free to contact me directly if you have more questions or need some assistance. Minerva is the long-neglected name of the Roman goddess of wisdom and invention, the arts and martial strength, one of the. The poster on each page *provides the link to the handout* for that lecture, so be sure to copy it. I have been a researcher, writer, and lecturer for over twenty-five years. 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. Another common practice was to select a surname that fit the personality of an individual, such as Hardy or Rambler. Thanks for writing this post! Students consider what it means to be free by learning about the choices and aspirations of freedpeople immediately after Emancipation. Rather than being derived from the supernatural world, European given names were a mere handle or tag. Several of the other slaves were sold to various slave owners. 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. Three formerly enslaved people discuss their names and the changes they underwent after Emancipation. Hi Jann, My mother then told me my fathers name was John Barnett, a white man, and I took up the name Barnett., My mothers name was Jane and she was called Jane Nunn because she belonged to the Nunns. Hello 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. Brutus) and a private name (e.g. You can read the introductory maps for a high-level guided explanation, view the timeline and chronology of . This was the case with several others from Wessyngton. 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. Renate, I was bornthe child of Phillis Houston, slave of Sol Smith. Brown: A common last name derived from an ancestor's complexion or the color of their hair. They identified 21 distinctly Black male names, among them biblical classics such as Abraham and Moses, and word names including Freeman and Prince. Slaves are identified by given name under their masters. See footnotes for source information. In fact, it's not even past." The three databases below provide details of 36,000 trans-Atlantic slave voyages, 10,000 intra-American ventures, names and personal information. Slaveholders often renamed newly acquired slaves; but self-naming by slaves, which also occurred, is likely to be underreported in the records, which were mainly created by and for slaveholders. I am the applicant for pension on account of having served in Co. B. 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 was after emancipation on that I went back to work for Col. Morrow and where I got the name Lottie, as already explained. The naming of slaves has not been treated in dedicated monographs, but it often figures in general accounts of plantation culture and the practices of enslavement. I am researching the surname Culbert worldwide, and the data can be found at: culbert.one-name.net There are a growing number of African Americans with this surname, which I believe originates in Scotland. Free black slave holders could be found at one time or . Cheryll Cody, "'There Was No Absalom on the Ball Plantation': Slave-Naming Practices in the South Carolina Low Country, 1720-1865," American Historical Review 92 (June 1987). The practice was common until its abolition in 1865 with the end of the Civil War and the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution.. For the time being, we are using this as the Slavery Plantation umbrella or portal. The Washingtons of Wessyngton Plantation: Stories of My Familys Journey to Freedom is proudly powered by WordPress Entries (RSS) and Comments (RSS). 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 . 42. These require Microsoft Word and a Windows platform. Harris: A patronymic meaning son of Harry. Tell me the name you were called before you met Phillip Fry? 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! This had a profound impact on the Selfhood of each of the enslaveddisrupting ones presumed Mission in life, as indicated by ones name; shattering the sharing of personal and historical experiences, attitudes, and spirits towards life; and putting in disarray the philosophy of life framework and common sense values by which all Africans lived.