I'm African American and my last name is Chavis. Where in Africa or in the world did my family originate?

Question

PS- My family is not descended from slavery. Those who lived during that time period were free and lived on their own land. So let's scratch the whole issue of slave master or slave ownership out of the picture. Not every black man or woman is descended from a slave. Thank you.

Also, my grandparents have already passed. My family did trace their roots all the way back to the 1700's to a preacher and educator named John Chavis. But I want to know going back before him. I'd also like to add that African Americans are not only known to be mixed with Caucasian but with Native American as well. I don't think that really matters in the case of my question because it is focused on Africa and/or where my family originated...not with whom they intermarried with going down the line.

Answer 1

You did not state where you are looking, although I did read 1700s. I think a lot of respondents hadn't heard about the Reformation. In the US I found that spelling earliest in NC so I'm assuming earlier VA is likely. I'm also aware of the surname being majorly present in NM. By 1850 census the name's also present out of Mexico.

Searching for specific African origins will never be easy given the sparcity of records ever kept.

I'm unable to try to help answer your question without more context.

Answer 2

There are a lot of possibilities. The first thing you should do is talk with your parents and grandparents (who carry the Chavis name) and ask them. They might know and it would be very simple to find out. But, if they still don't know, here are some possibilities:

First, be aware that 80% or more of all African-Americans have some Caucasian blood in them. That's one possibility. Second, during the era of slavery many slaves were given the last name of the family's last owner. During abolition, however, after the freeing of the slaves, many slaves cast off their slave names and chose one of their own. So, your last name could be the product of a freed slave, 140 years ago, choosing their own name. Or, another possibility, an ancestor may have come from one of the Caribbean Islands where there was some Spanish influence.

But, as I mentioned, start by asking your parents and grandparents who carry the name, they may have a very simple answer for you.

Answer 3

There will be two school of thought. One, somewhere on the line may be your father side has/ had intermarriage with Spanish Origin. The second though will be, during the slavery, the Spanish were known in their slave trade. They brought most of their slaves in their Caribbean, Central and South Americana's colonies. As the rest of the Slave owners and traders, they usually give for their slave their own Spanish name. Any way, don't worry about the name. What makes you an African American is not the name, it is the culture you follow.

Answer 4

That name is common here in S. E. Texas as we are close to Louisiana. Slaves often took their master's names and sometimes the spelling was changed a bit. There were Spanish explorers in Louisiana also. There are Spanish names mixed in with the Cajun population. Actually when the U. S. bought the Louisiana Territory from France the Spanish flag was still being flown over the Louisiana territory.

I have always thought the name was probably a change in spelling of Chavez.
Names frequently got changed when some recorder mispelled it or misunderstood it.

Answer 5

This is a start on the last name Chavis's origin. If you want to look deeper go to "Ancestry.com".

chavis
Portuguese or Spanish: variant of Chaves.
Variant of Irish and English Chivers.
The name is also associated with PeeDee Indian origin.
Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press, ISBN

Answer 6

While the name Chavis would seem to have some sort of French origin, there are a ton of possibilities, considering the role that France played in colonizing many parts of the world.

Answer 7

For what it's worth, ancestry.com mentions:

chavis
Portuguese or Spanish: variant of Chaves.
Variant of Irish and English Chivers.
The name is also associated with PeeDee Indian origin.

Chavis message boards at:

http://boards.ancestry.com/surnames.chavis/mb.ashx

and

http://genforum.genealogy.com/chavis/

Good luck,
Dave
--
http://www.familypulse.org

Answer 8

clearly your family is mulit-racial, just because your African American doesn't mean you are a direct descendant of an African. you should look into it, I'll bet you'll find your family tree very interesting. I was always told my family was of the English/Scottish origin & when my uncle did some research (on my mothers, mothers side) he found that our family started with a women from Ireland & a man from Barcelona Spain!

Answer 9

The name Chavis comes from Galicia in North-Western Spain. I suspect you have some Spanish blood in you and some roots in South America.

Answer 10

Your ancestors may have taken their master's last name, as so many African slaves did.