Is it true?

Question

I was told by a highly educated person that the surname Washington is, as you know, never or is rarely attached to a member of the white race, but common among American blacks. His explanation: because George Washington fathered so many childred with black women that most of the people named Washington changed their names to Washburn.

Answer 1

Not true. It's a common name. Slaves took the names of their masters. History does show us that Thomas Jefferson did in fact father a number of children with the slaves he owned. It is well documented.

Answer 2

That is not true. Washington is a common name and not just among African Americans. There were many prominent plantation owners in the pre-war South with the name Washington. When a slave was purchased, their last name became the same as the slaveowner, and Washington is a common name among African Americans because the plantation owners named Washington had a lot of slaves.

This is why some African Americans call traditional black surnames "slave names."

Answer 3

Your friend may be educated, but he/she is also deeply biased and or misinformed

There are many more people named Washington who are African American than are European in racial origin. That much is true, just look in a northern Virginia phonebook.

But few, if any, of these peple, share a genetic heritage with George Washington. When the slaves at Mt Vernon were emancipated (as G Washington directed in his will) many had no family names. Consequently, they took the name of their former patron, Washington, as it was a famous name even then, and conferred a certain minor prestige on them. It did not denote parentage. The former slaves wanted to be associated with George, because it made their new life as freedmen easier.

Answer 4

I think your 'highly educated person' needs to do some more research in this area. It would be entirely immodest to refer to myself as a GW scholar but I've done a lot of research and I've never heard one word from even a remotely credible source about George Washington fathering children with slaves. Could it have happened? It's pysically possible, I mean he was human just like the rest of us. Were we there to know for sure? Of course not. Is there any known documentation or any type of evidence whatsoever to say that he did? Nope. Your source on this may be thinking of Thomas Jefferson..i.e. the Sally Hemmings affair. I find that people who make remarks about GW fathering children with his slave are generally people trying to make a joke who are almost entirely ignorant in regards to knowledge about the man.

Answer 5

I am not sure of the Washburn reference, but to answer the part of your question about there being few whites in the country named Washington is correct. Slaves often took the sire name of their owner, and in many instances, yes, they were fathered by their owners and that is how they came by the name. My husband's last name is Carothers, which is Irish/Scottish....but in reality a slave name. He is black.

Answer 6

"Could it have happened? It's pysically possible, I mean he was human just like the rest of us." Using instruments that are used for horsed ie: bits, branding irons and bridles is human? Breeding people so you get the "best product" is human? Allowing a statement that your labor pool is 3/5 of a man in your country's greatest document is human? Creating hundreds of mulatto children by force unto the mother is human? Wow, that's remarkable. Quite human, in fact.

But GW? It could have happened or maybe not. I understand he was quite fond of Martha and haven't heard too many disparaging remarks about GW. He was the prez after all, he wouldn't be the first US prez to have a cover-up if it was true.

Answer 7

It has nothing to do with George Washington... the slaves themselves took the name of their masters. When "freed" slaves needed a name so they could register themselves as freed. Most used their master's name because it was easier.That is also why you see alot of black Jacksons, Smiths, Williams, and Grants.

Answer 8

Sounds believable.

Answer 9

We need DNA testing to get to the bottom of this!

Answer 10

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