How did first generation Afro-Americans acquire their surnames?

Answer 1

Many of them took on the surnames of the people who owned them as when they were slaves. Prior to the end of slavery, most did not have surmanes. They were treated as property.

Answer 2

Many of them took the name of their former master or of the town/plantation where they lived. Others chose descriptive names (Brown, John'son, etc) or ones that meant something important to them (Freedman, for example.)

For most Afro-American families, however, the name doesn't go back to that first generation coming from Africa, but to the generation which gained its freedom at the end of the Civil War. By that point in history, virtually all slaves were American-born, not African.

Answer 3

Some took the names of their former owners(which in some cases could have been their family), others took the names of famous Americans like Franklin or Jefferson or Washington to name just a few.

Answer 4

there have been various Scots in the South even basically before the Civil warfare--John C. Calhoun, South Carolina Senator and author of the Articles of Secession, became into of cutting-edge Scottish descent Calhoun is from the Colquhoun prolonged family participants (believe me, i understand this...i'm marrying considered one of his descendents). Alexandria, Virginia, a uncomplicated hangout for George Washington and Thomas Jefferson and Robert E. Lee, became into based via Scottish retailers in 1769, so there have been plenty basically in that community prosperous adequate to have abode slaves. on an identical time as various Scotch and Irish in the South have been undesirable, some did come from larger crust. different black individuals would characteristic their final names to abolitionists who offered their freedom, or who helped them get away the South. it is not as uncomplicated, yet there is rather history of stuff like that.

Answer 5

They got it from Slavery.The white man destroyed the beautiful African names they would of had such as zongo,yao,tuskan,muslim african names etc.Thats why all african americans you see today have european last names.Thats pretty sad also that that part of their culture was tooken away from them.So that has made it even more difficult if they decided that they wanted to trace which african country they came from.This was a really educated question.I'm glad you asked it becuase i wondered of asking it myself, but do me a favor and keep on researching this.People like you are the reason why i want to live.Thankyou , smart one ;)

Answer 6

From what I remember, it was usually from the house that they were a part of and it was usually related to what the Family's surname and their occupation.

Answer 7

Many took the names of their former masters (not all of them were poorly treated, and some considered themselves part of the family). Others took the last name of people they admired, like Lincoln, Washington, etc.

Answer 8

Their owners became their last names. Example Jamison Henry was given his surname Henry because he was owned by Henry,

Answer 9

the master of the plantation
for the most part!?
But there is a great museum of African American history
here in the beantown....that could answer that question for sure!
smith Ct Beacon hill

Answer 10

most of them took the surnames of their masters, if they were slaves.