What is your family name and what state is your family stationed in? Here is the Full List if your name is not in the Top 20 >> docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1tqfJzYj_CffRzkdyXeQwALXINXE9k8dPT3pusCsYgFg/edit?usp=sharing
Thank you for this list. A few of my family's names aren't listed. My sister studied black history back in the day, it was said that Black last names came from the slave owner. For example,, If the slave owner's last name was Hopkins he gave them his last name to claim ownership. The Hopkins plantation, The Davidson plantation and so on.
Surnames only began in the 1600s. This is when I cannot remember which empire wanted to take a census of its population. That is why when we look at popular Western philosophers they only had one name ie Plato, Aristotle or even Galileo. Galileo though was around when last names were beginning to take hold so Isaac Newton already obviously had a last name.
20. Anderson 19. Thompson 18. Washington 17. Green 16. Walker 15. Lewis 14. White 13. Moore 12. Wilson 11. Taylor TOP 10 10. Robinson 9. Harris 8. Thomas 7. Davis 6. Jackson 5. Brown 4. Jones 3. Smith 2. Johnson 1. Williams
As I listened I thought- Johnson, Jones, Smith , Washington and Taylor... 20) Anderson 19) Thompson 18) Washington 17) Green 16) Walker 15) Lewis 14) White 13) Moore 12) Wilson 11) Taylor 10) Robinson 9) Harris 8) Thomas 7) Davis 6) Jackson 5) Brown 4) Jones 3) Smith 2) Johnson 1) Williams Thanks for sharing this video- Texas, Georgia and New York seem to be the states with a concentration of these names. Very Interesting!!!
@@PatriciaSearles-s6q Good morning. I have a weird last name- SO I JUST KNOW: If I meet somebody with my last name their is definitely a family connection. It ain't that many of us.
Slave master names is what she should be saying, Historians know our ancestors were stripped of their ldentity and given the names of their Slave Masters.
@@edwingross9778 true but have you traced your lineage to find out the actual last name before it was changed when they arrived in the states? I have. And to that point, not all black people are American descendants of slaves. So these names being the actual slave owners I prefer not to refer to them as masters, wouldn't apply in every case
I am a Walker from Marrero, LA. (Walkertown). The city was founded by my great grandmother Corrine Walker, Shout out to all these Walker family members.
Being in the military 7years, I’ve met at least one black person with each of these last names. Also, I was born a Johnson and now Smith from marriage. Really shows how colonized we really are. 😢😇
I have yet to come across someone with the last name "Green". Thought rare☺, kinda surprised to see it in the top 20. Came across all the other names many times.
@@carlanash1028 At the end of the civil war, slave masters hulled their slaves to Texas in a last ditch effort to keep their slaves since it was the last state to abolish slavery. I read a lot of slave memoirs that talk about how the slave masters filled the wagons full of female slaves because all the male slaves had ran off and joined the north. A lot of them were talking about how the wagons were getting stuck in the mud and all the slave masters were trying to help each other get out because the women slaves were pretty much useless pretending like they didn’t know how to push. 😂😂😂
@@trishaw.237 This so interesting to me! It sort of shows how groups of black folks have migrated & socialized. I've met a few Green(e)s, but never a Jenkins. So, maybe our perception of commonality is skewed based on our personal social sphere. Also, these are just top 20, so it can be common just not quite enough to make top 20.
I'm a Williams and I knew that Williams would be in the top 10, but I am happily surprised that it is number 1!! I also have Walker and Harris in my family tree.
@tamaragleaves exactly why she not saying that part. We know are blood we know I people. Yes we have Afro ancestors but we have maternal indigenous ancestry as well historically
I’m a Walker (my paternal side) and my family is from Texas. We traced our lineage back to the first Walker in our family who came as a slave from Nigeria. We even have artifacts that were worn by my family while they were in slavery. Today, my family owns cattle ranches in Texas. My mom’s family are Blackfoot and they changed their names to avoid being sold into slavery.
My maternal last name was Williams and I changed it to my paternal last name which is Rankin but that was the name that they were given when they came into the United States in the late 1700s. If I dig further back into the census upon arrival the last name was actually Mae. I can't Truly find the origins even though I have Nigerian ancestry.
As a Jamaica these name on this listed are all common surname in Jamaica. Dont forget our ancestors were all strip of everything when they were taken from africa. They took our ancestors original language, change our diet and our names etc .thus the reason we all have these names now. One love🇯🇲
This not our name these names come from our ancestors masters. Our ancestors when they got here; old master took everything from my ancestors including their identity. When our ancestors was set free they needed something to identify them so they could find family that had been sold to other plantations. So these names we have now is not our identity. Do you understand?
@@XcellsiorConsulting1913 well... your surname is still important even if you feel bad about it. Plus, one of your ancestors chose your surname, so maybe it's good to appreciate it. You can change it today if you want.
I am very surprised that Hairstons aren't on this list. Because it's a ton of them in NC, VA, Maryland and other States. Both my Grandmothers are Hairstons. My Grandmother on my Dad's side was 1 of 17 siblings. My grandmother on my mother side was 1 of 8 siblings.
@@unicornshimmer2200I was told no they weren't related. My maternal Grandmother was the youngest of 8 siblings. The oldest four was born in Axton, Virginia. Henry County, Va. The youngest four, including my grandmother was born in Eden, North Carolina (Rockingham County). My paternal grandmother was born in Eden, North Carolina. In that city there was four sets of Hairstons. And they will spread throughout that Southern VA throughout NC from Danville to Martinsville VA and Winston Salem to Greensboro, NC. There was no connection that I remember of their family circles. I was told that was 40 different Hairston Plantations spread throughout many states. Many former Black Slaves/ancestors took on the names of those slave owners.
@@bf1822 I hadn’t either until a few weeks ago when I saw a video about the Hairstons then went down a rabbit hole reading about the white Hairstons and apparently where all the Black Hairstons then came from
We the ☝️'s.............YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!....................................................................... DAMN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, this was the sad discovery for us as well. There are so many layers to the negative effects of slavery and I think the fact that you had to maintain the name of your Enslaver to stay connected to lost/sold family members is one of the most egregious.
Seems it may've been the most pragmatic thing to do under the subjugating circumstances. A kind of lesson in how traditions, whether good or bad in hindsight, can form of necessity I guess.
@@okimawilcox1550 Hello we could be related our family is from different parts of Virginia,North Carolina,South Carolina especially Charlotte North Carolina,Alabama,Mississippi and Georgia
Williams is a well known last name from North Carolina. My dad last name was a Williams and it is very popular from the south. Wilson was also in my family.
I would like to see a video about how regional some Black names are. I was surprised names like Brooks and Gray wasn't on the list alot of Black here in Maryland have those names
I'm a Thomas from Virginia. However, my grandfather, his brother, and sister came from North Carolina in the 1930s to Virginia. I'm a Jones also and from Virginia.
I knew my name was in there (Anderson). First cousin's (Harris). Friend that passed away, Davis. Old school friend Jackson. Close friend Jones. Old family friend Smith. Dad was always taking Sister Johnson to the airport. 😅 That was really interesting. All names in Jamaica and came to the UK. 😅
Very interesting. It resembles the geographic pattern of original slavery and some of the movements to escape the entrenched southern ports. Really enjoyed this!
God bless the families of all black people with last names in this list. However, please understand that this is not your original name. This was a name given to you. I understand that you may feel proud of the name that you were given but remember that this is not your name. your lineage traces back to Africa where another name of family origin was given to you. Respectfully, we are not William’s, or Thomas, or Davis, or smith, or jones, or Jenkins. We just use those names because our history was erased. So please remember when you feel proud of the name you hold onto today, it was given to your relative by a person or family who cared nothing about you.
@@hadiyadavis2084 My grandmother was a Meade born in King and Queen County, Virginia in 1900. Her family were possibly descendants of General Meade's slaves in the Civil War. He owned hundreds of acres of land and lived in the area.
There wasn't a push to call us black until the civil Rights movement indigenous ppl becoming citizens of the United states 1960's with approval to be able to vote. Black was derogatory before that. ----- We're African American as of 1986 lawfully on paper to disenfranchise us from the land we've cultivated thousands of years and the grand cities/towns we've built. All of which was land grabbed and parceled up to display lawfully ownership of in the 1800's moving forward. The US was only the 13 colonies 24years prior solely on the east coast. Millions of acres was sold at cheap rates to immigrants of European origin, fast forward 1980's into 2000's more of our neighborhoods sold to foreigners to dwindle what little we have nationwide. The gas station, convenience store, all local businesses, even food restaurants. ----- It's pretty Obvious at this point when JB says: you not "black" if you don't vote for me, then invites 8million foreigners (Washington Post) giving them an array of benefits such as housing. When rent in New York is over 3k/mo in some areas. We're homeless when 300 yrs prior we accepted the newcomers showing off our brilliant inventions that are used around the world. Example the traffic light. Our craftsmanship and work ethic as a whole used to be bar none. We got repaid with westward expansion, IOU's, laws that work against us, years of Jim Crow, exploitation, eminent domain on land, drugs, guns, present day ignorance of our ppl and about our ppl from others.
The reason I don’t agree is because so many families were split up and sold down the road …. Ten sibling sold equals 10 slave owners name…. We should be THE most loving to each other….. WE really are brothers and sister 💕
Though these are the names adopted by our ancestors, I will choose to look at it with a sense of awe and pride! WE ARE STILL HERE!!! We as a people have survived and prosper even though they tried to stop us. WE ARE, the creators, inventors and builders of this nation. So....the next time we encounter another member of our tribe, treat as an opportunity to expand on a collective history. You may just learn something wondrous and new about the familial tree😊.
@@joycelynthomas2481 they stole your land property history life's why would they not steal your name as well. These names are your original surnames. Take the name Washington that land was bought by royal people in Britain for their family, to flee the Spanish Inquisition years and wars brought change , they became servants on their own lands, then a general/ boss etc was sent to the Washington and took their name from the true children who own the land, relabelled them slaves. Check your surname on ancient Neg ro Family Crests Europe. The royals and people were originally blck renamed again as Africa America or Jamaica etc.
I thank you for sharing this knowledge❤ I politely and respectfully ask that our people STOP being shown to be dancing and partying. Also, from what I see in two beautiful videos of parents sitting with their beautiful babies, but the adult is seen sleeping as their precious baby is reading their book. Please, this is NOT a criticism but only a heartfelt suggestion for the images of our Black, beautiful people ❤ Again thank you and God bless your beautiful body of work, telling part of our people's journey in America.
I have Davis (maiden name), Johnson (mother's maiden name), Goines and Tyus in my family tree. They are from Arkansas and Louisiana. My married name is Rosebur (Mississippi) and there are various spellings for it (Rosebud, Roseboro and Rosebough).
They may have not originally been our last names, but they are ours now. Ironically there are more black people named "White" than black people named "Black" or white people named "Black".
There wasn't a push to call us black until the civil Rights movement indigenous ppl becoming citizens of the United states 1960's with approval to be able to vote. Black was derogatory before that. ----- We're African American as of 1986 lawfully on paper to disenfranchise us from the land we've cultivated thousands of years and the grand cities/towns we've built. All of which was land grabbed and parceled up to display lawfully ownership of in the 1800's moving forward. The US was only the 13 colonies 24years prior solely on the east coast. Millions of acres was sold at cheap rates to immigrants of European origin, fast forward 1980's into 2000's more of our neighborhoods sold to foreigners to dwindle what little we have nationwide. The gas station, convenience store, all local businesses, even food restaurants. ----- It's pretty Obvious at this point when JB says: you not "black" if you don't vote for me, then invites 8million foreigners (Washington Post) giving them an array of benefits such as housing. When rent in New York is over 3k/mo in some areas. We're homeless when 300 yrs prior we accepted the newcomers showing off our brilliant inventions that are used around the world. Example the traffic light. Our craftsmanship and work ethic as a whole used to be bar none. We got repaid with westward expansion, IOU's, laws that work against us, years of Jim Crow, exploitation, eminent domain on land, drugs, guns, present day ignorance of our ppl and about our ppl from others.
So interesting that you are doing this. I like to write fiction in my free time and I came across a list with like 300-400 surnames that most African Americans have in this country, and before I give a surname to any of my fictional (always African American) characters I always investigate to see which states the name is most prominent in.
Thats why I hate when folks say "There's Atlanta and then there's Georgia" as if Atlanta is the only area with a considerable amount of Black folks in the state. The only part of GA where you dont see too many of us is in the mountainous areas north of the Atlanta metro area. Other than that, we are all over the state including the country parts.
Washington is an abbreviation of the Washitaw American Indian name. Many of them were pushed further West by the European expansions. It is not a European surname at its roots
As a GA native, my name is straight from here. Even my wife, who's originally from Missouri, has this state as one of the representations of her maiden name.
Yay!!! THOMAS is #8 That’s my last name. ❤❤❤ #6 JACKSON my cousins and #5 BROWN is my mother’s maiden name Wow!!! How accurate is this video!!! THANKS FOR SHARING!!! ❤❤❤
There wasn't a push to call us black until the civil Rights movement indigenous ppl becoming citizens of the United states 1960's with approval to be able to vote. Black was derogatory before that. ----- We're African American as of 1986 lawfully on paper to disenfranchise us from the land we've cultivated thousands of years and the grand cities/towns we've built. All of which was land grabbed and parceled up to display lawfully ownership of in the 1800's moving forward. The US was only the 13 colonies 24years prior solely on the east coast. Millions of acres was sold at cheap rates to immigrants of European origin, fast forward 1980's into 2000's more of our neighborhoods sold to foreigners to dwindle what little we have nationwide. The gas station, convenience store, all local businesses, even food restaurants. ----- It's pretty Obvious at this point when JB says: you not "black" if you don't vote for me, then invites 8million foreigners (Washington Post) giving them an array of benefits such as housing. When rent in New York is over 3k/mo in some areas. We're homeless when 300 yrs prior we accepted the newcomers showing off our brilliant inventions that are used around the world. Example the traffic light. Our craftsmanship and work ethic as a whole used to be bar none. We got repaid with westward expansion, IOU's, laws that work against us, years of Jim Crow, exploitation, eminent domain on land, drugs, guns, present day ignorance of our ppl and about our ppl from others.
What is your family name and what state is your family stationed in?
Here is the Full List if your name is not in the Top 20 >> docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1tqfJzYj_CffRzkdyXeQwALXINXE9k8dPT3pusCsYgFg/edit?usp=sharing
Brenson. South Carolina
Wallace - Mississippi
@@BlackExcellist I looked at all 2000 last names. Mine is not listed 🤷🏾♀️
Harris - North Carolina
Thank you for this list. A few of my family's names aren't listed. My sister studied black history back in the day, it was said that Black last names came from the slave owner. For example,, If the slave owner's last name was Hopkins he gave them his last name to claim ownership. The Hopkins plantation, The Davidson plantation and so on.
It would be so delightful to know our surnames before slavery😢
Have you tried building your family tree? I was shocked how far back I got.
@@JustLovelyQ Yes!
Surnames only began in the 1600s. This is when I cannot remember which empire wanted to take a census of its population. That is why when we look at popular Western philosophers they only had one name ie Plato, Aristotle or even Galileo. Galileo though was around when last names were beginning to take hold so Isaac Newton already obviously had a last name.
these are our sur names before slavery
Yes thank you that would be beautiful! ❤❤
20. Anderson
19. Thompson
18. Washington
17. Green
16. Walker
15. Lewis
14. White
13. Moore
12. Wilson
11. Taylor
TOP 10
10. Robinson
9. Harris
8. Thomas
7. Davis
6. Jackson
5. Brown
4. Jones
3. Smith
2. Johnson
1. Williams
@@crystalgrose Thank You 🙏🏽
@@crystalgrose You're the REAL MVP
21. Banks, 22. Edwards 23. Clay 24. Woods 25. Evans.
Anyone named Ficklin?
My maiden name is Jones and married name Brown. 4-5. 901❤
These are not our names, it's their names. Malcolm protested against it and changed his to X
@@TTBC2L1 True !
Exactly!
Amen
@@TTBC2L1 You Are So Correct 💯
@@TTBC2L1 Not a single name was west african.
As I listened I thought- Johnson, Jones, Smith , Washington and Taylor...
20) Anderson 19) Thompson 18) Washington 17) Green 16) Walker 15) Lewis 14) White 13) Moore 12) Wilson 11) Taylor 10) Robinson 9) Harris 8) Thomas 7) Davis 6) Jackson 5) Brown 4) Jones 3) Smith 2) Johnson 1) Williams Thanks for sharing this video- Texas, Georgia and New York seem to be the states with a concentration of these names. Very Interesting!!!
@@sharonkaysnowton very heavy space states alot the names sound like the presidents
My last name is searles, what is my connection?
@@PatriciaSearles-s6q Good morning. I have a weird last name- SO I JUST KNOW: If I meet somebody with my last name their is definitely a family connection. It ain't that many of us.
Very good to know 😊
@@sharonkaysnowton I'm a Wilson
Slave master names is what she should be saying, Historians know our ancestors were stripped of their ldentity and given the names of their Slave Masters.
It showed u was his property. They used to brand us too
Factual truth.
@@edwingross9778 true but have you traced your lineage to find out the actual last name before it was changed when they arrived in the states? I have. And to that point, not all black people are American descendants of slaves. So these names being the actual slave owners I prefer not to refer to them as masters, wouldn't apply in every case
These are our names today!!!
@@Mdfd438
If you decide to keep it.
You can change it, if you decide to do so.
I am a Walker from Marrero, LA. (Walkertown). The city was founded by my great grandmother Corrine Walker, Shout out to all these Walker family members.
Being in the military 7years, I’ve met at least one black person with each of these last names. Also, I was born a Johnson and now Smith from marriage. Really shows how colonized we really are. 😢😇
@@CosmixinnerG colonized yet far from civilized
@@choossuck7653 not colonized, prisoners of war, what does colonization looks like under the most barbaric people on the earth 🌎🤔
It really shows you how much we’ve been scammed and bamboozled…..
No wonder we are so divided. Learn your history we are so lost.
@@CosmixinnerG I'm a Johnson
1 second in and I just want to say that I already know that Williams, Jones, Smith, and Johnson will easily be on this list!
And Washington
Thompsons
And Brown
I have yet to come across someone with the last name "Green". Thought rare☺, kinda surprised to see it in the top 20. Came across all the other names many times.
@@trishaw.237 off the top of my head, I know of 3 families in my town with the last name Green. Not related to my knowledge. In Mississippi...
I'm surprised Freeman didn't make this list.
@@cappriment
I am very surprised that Murphy it's not on that list.
I don't think I know anyone named Freeman.
@@cappriment So am I...I Thought Freeman Would Be #1. 🤔
I just knew Cobb or Cobbs would be on the list..
@@cappriment I thought so too
Amazing how most of these names populated in Texas!
@@carlanash1028 At the end of the civil war, slave masters hulled their slaves to Texas in a last ditch effort to keep their slaves since it was the last state to abolish slavery. I read a lot of slave memoirs that talk about how the slave masters filled the wagons full of female slaves because all the male slaves had ran off and joined the north. A lot of them were talking about how the wagons were getting stuck in the mud and all the slave masters were trying to help each other get out because the women slaves were pretty much useless pretending like they didn’t know how to push. 😂😂😂
Yes I'm in Houston Texas
@@carlanash1028 Most Slaves came through Galveston, Tx........
Texas had A LOT OF SLAVES
Actually it did not originate there. That's just where most of the people with that last name live.
They left out Jenkins! 😆
@@chezniki exactly why we ain’t on the list lol 😂 Jenkins is huge too.
Interesting. I don't think I've ever met a Jenkins in real life(east coast & south).
@@boldenmywords shanyna Jenkins. 😆
Right Jenkins is very common☺! I've met plenty, but never someone named Green.
@@trishaw.237 This so interesting to me! It sort of shows how groups of black folks have migrated & socialized. I've met a few Green(e)s, but never a Jenkins. So, maybe our perception of commonality is skewed based on our personal social sphere. Also, these are just top 20, so it can be common just not quite enough to make top 20.
That was interesting! I enjoyed this post especially the states where the most last names resided.
Thanks for sharing
Thank you for sharing this with us. God bless you.
Georgia made almost every list
Yup. I noticed that, too. I live in GA.
@@loveme9703 Because of slavery.
@@loveme9703 Georgia is full of black people
Also Texas
@@reneedennis2011so do I
Thank you. Interesting and informative.
Very interesting, not surprised by some of the names!!
I'm a Williams and I knew that Williams would be in the top 10, but I am happily surprised that it is number 1!! I also have Walker and Harris in my family tree.
I'm also a Walker by way of Louisiana Choctaw Indian.
Harris is Redbone indigenous peoples. I Have Harris in my family tree as well and it all hits indigenous groups of mixed race
@tamaragleaves exactly why she not saying that part. We know are blood we know I people. Yes we have Afro ancestors but we have maternal indigenous ancestry as well historically
#Williams too :)
@@Ziggicam Williams also
I’m a Walker (my paternal side) and my family is from Texas. We traced our lineage back to the first Walker in our family who came as a slave from Nigeria. We even have artifacts that were worn by my family while they were in slavery. Today, my family owns cattle ranches in Texas. My mom’s family are Blackfoot and they changed their names to avoid being sold into slavery.
Thanks for sharing 🤎🤎🤎
That is so interesting
You should have kept the last name Blackfoot.
My maternal last name was Williams and I changed it to my paternal last name which is Rankin but that was the name that they were given when they came into the United States in the late 1700s. If I dig further back into the census upon arrival the last name was actually Mae. I can't Truly find the origins even though I have Nigerian ancestry.
What part of Texas?
As a Jamaica these name on this listed are all common surname in Jamaica. Dont forget our ancestors were all strip of everything when they were taken from africa. They took our ancestors original language, change our diet and our names etc .thus the reason we all have these names now. One love🇯🇲
What are the bigger names in Jamaica
@@Smittical78 Brown, Smith, Thomas, Williams, Smith, Green, Reid, Henry
@@ratedr7845 thanks
Interesting. Williams is very prevalent. I enjoyed this video. Very informative 😊
Only prevalent because they owned the most slaves. And these white folks walking around here all proud! Proud of what?
I enjoyed this video very much. It was informative and eye opening. Where can I go to do a dive into looking up my last name?
Anyone with roots from Savannah, GA? Slave ships often stopped here. Beautiful coastal Georgia. Rich in history🥰
@@laurainglis7485 often? It was one of the top ports for slavery.
People really think people of color came here on slave ships we where already here on this land black people were the native Americans they talk about
I was born and rasied south of Savannah (Brunswick, GA).
I was born and raised here ❤
Yes ma'am I live in Hinesville Ga.
This not our name these names come from our ancestors masters. Our ancestors when they got here; old master took everything from my ancestors including their identity. When our ancestors was set free they needed something to identify them so they could find family that had been sold to other plantations. So these names we have now is not our identity. Do you understand?
Facts ....
@@XcellsiorConsulting1913 100
I'm so glad that I legally changed my entire name.
I gave them back what belonged to them in the first place
@@Maasai-El yes I’m on my way to change mine !
@@XcellsiorConsulting1913 well... your surname is still important even if you feel bad about it. Plus, one of your ancestors chose your surname, so maybe it's good to appreciate it. You can change it today if you want.
Excellent research. Thank you for taking the time to both do the research, and to share your results! Blessings! Stephanie Wilson~
Married into family Williams and seemed like every third person their name was Williams thanks for the information🎉❤🎉😊
Jackson got to be there
I love the Jackson's song Got To Be There😂❤
I am very surprised that Hairstons aren't on this list. Because it's a ton of them in NC, VA, Maryland and other States. Both my Grandmothers are Hairstons. My Grandmother on my Dad's side was 1 of 17 siblings. My grandmother on my mother side was 1 of 8 siblings.
@@perrysaunders331 your paternal and maternal Hairstons are related!
Hairstons is #358 on the list. We do know Hairstons here in NC.
@@unicornshimmer2200I was told no they weren't related. My maternal Grandmother was the youngest of 8 siblings. The oldest four was born in Axton, Virginia. Henry County, Va. The youngest four, including my grandmother was born in Eden, North Carolina (Rockingham County). My paternal grandmother was born in Eden, North Carolina. In that city there was four sets of Hairstons. And they will spread throughout that Southern VA throughout NC from Danville to Martinsville VA and Winston Salem to Greensboro, NC. There was no connection that I remember of their family circles. I was told that was 40 different Hairston Plantations spread throughout many states. Many former Black Slaves/ancestors took on the names of those slave owners.
Never heard that surname before..
@@bf1822 I hadn’t either until a few weeks ago when I saw a video about the Hairstons then went down a rabbit hole reading about the white Hairstons and apparently where all the Black Hairstons then came from
My first time visiting your site, I loved it
This is so interesting! Thanks! I love Black history. ❤🎉
I didn't think my last name would be on the list 😯 I'd researched my name before but this gave me more insight. Thank you.
I knew Johnson and Williams would be in the top two before watching this 😂
I'M A WILLIAMS I KNEW WE HAD THE BIGGEST POPULATION ❤
Yes, straight out of Mississippi!
We the ☝️'s.............YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......................................................................
DAMN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fellow Williams here 👋🏾 family hails from Georgia, Alabama and Florida but my parents raised me in Virginia. We nationwide! ✊🏾
@@sherriewilliams4167 I am a Williams from Seneca, South Carolina. I thought that this was name, as well, is the most popular!
Good all I’m a Williams here in the Bronx NY
My maiden name is Jones and we're from FL. I'm not surprised that we're in the top 5 😊
@@karengarner9525 My grandmothers last name is jones. (Montgomery alabama) Looking for family ever since. Married to Davis.
My maiden name is Jones also!!! I'm from South Carolina 😊
@@lisamccants241 Hay FAM ! 😁
It should have been N'Ganou today.
you all who made the list are from Africa. Your family was BROUGHT to some of these places you are claiming. Please never forget.
Surprised King is t on this list. I was for certain it would be top 20. Great video!
@@aliveandwell3958 I wanted King to be on the too.
I’m a SMITH!!!!! So common i knew it made that list
Ms Cupcake Smith 🧁. Nice to meet you 😂
1 generation removed on my father’s side.
It never occurred to me before this article that many retained slave owner surnames to guide family members sold in slavery back to their relatives.
names could have changed several times.
Yes, this was the sad discovery for us as well. There are so many layers to the negative effects of slavery and I think the fact that you had to maintain the name of your Enslaver to stay connected to lost/sold family members is one of the most egregious.
Seems it may've been the most pragmatic thing to do under the subjugating circumstances. A kind of lesson in how traditions, whether good or bad in hindsight, can form of necessity I guess.
These are not slave owner sur names
@BlackExcellist yea our last name comes from our slave owners it's not our real last name
My family names heavy related are Able,Burns,Caldwell,McFadden,Hemphill,Jackson,Jones,McDowell/McDow,Pearson,Montgomery
Montgomery for my family.
@@sandragoodson6507 my maternal grandmother was a Caldwell from W. Virginia
@@okimawilcox1550 Hello we could be related our family is from different parts of Virginia,North Carolina,South Carolina especially Charlotte North Carolina,Alabama,Mississippi and Georgia
I know a Hemphill
@@sandragoodson6507 my family was from Pocahontas W. Virginia in Tazwell Co. any kin from those parts?
Awesome!! I wasn’t expecting to be on the list!!! #14 White!! Ayyy 🤗
What source(s) did you use for the data presented in this video?
I can’t believe Scott, Graham, and Cooper didn’t make the list 😂 Seems like I know a gazillion of them. Oh, and McFadden, Singletary and Fulmore too.
@@gloriamcgill8651 or Evans and Cann and Colman
Or Singleton
@@gloriamcgill8651 it depends on the location
This is only the Top 20.
@@gloriamcgill8651 owens
Williams#1 woohooooo🤘🤘
my oldest sister is a Williams by marriage
Hellll yeah lol, same here!!
I’m related to The Johnsons of Georgia. From Barrow County. 😊
whats up cuz....
These names are part of our lineal story/history, they aren't black last names. These are really European names.
The European's were black. These are American Indian and Black European sur names.
@@555125kevin It's an African American List, Not A Black List.
@555125kevin
These are our names.
Yes we are aware of that, we know our history. Slave names.
@TorriaYAH222 by default
Good video..... Good topic.... Good info.... Good presentation👍🏾💪🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
Williams is a well known last name from North Carolina. My dad last name was a Williams and it is very popular from the south. Wilson was also in my family.
@@annettewilliams1605 I'm a Wilson and I traced it back to North Carolina.
The first name on the list should be Black!✊🏿
I'm surprised it wasn't even ranked anywhere on this list. I just KNEW Black would be listed, but I was wrong. 🤨
Nope! First name should be what the data reflects is the most common surname.
@@AllBrightColors 😂😂😂
@@SuperMogul 💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽
Strangely enough, mostly whites have "Black" as surnames.
I'm surprised Miller isn't on here, my family name.
I knew my last name wasn’t going to make the list lol!
@@KikiSoFlyy Take mine.
@@KikiSoFlyy mines either, lmao #Henderson
Me too
Same, not sure if it’s a good or bad thing.
@zeroturn7091 i guess the good thing is when you name come up, you're most likely related
Where I live in CT there are sooooo many Rileys that I thought it would pop up. Good video.
Thanks so very much for sharing this information!❤️
I would like to see a video about how regional some Black names are. I was surprised names like Brooks and Gray wasn't on the list alot of Black here in Maryland have those names
The names on the list are slave masters last names that owned the majority of slaves..
@@carayj Yes, I’m a Gray in the DMV, family is from MD and DC.
Maryland is a very tiny state. Most African Americans are not concentrated there.
@@AllBrightColors Maryland’s African America population ranks 5th in the Nation.
@@AllBrightColors try Google Maryland has a very high population of Black people with a high incomes too
Georgia is a really big melting pot of last names
Knowledge is Everything! History 101
Hi 👋🏾. Very interesting article.
This was entertaining and informative.
I’m not surprised!!🙏🏽🤗
I'm a Thomas from Virginia. However, my grandfather, his brother, and sister came from North Carolina in the 1930s to Virginia. I'm a Jones also and from Virginia.
Wassup family 😊
I knew my name was in there (Anderson). First cousin's (Harris). Friend that passed away, Davis. Old school friend Jackson. Close friend Jones. Old family friend Smith. Dad was always taking Sister Johnson to the airport. 😅
That was really interesting. All names in Jamaica and came to the UK. 😅
I heard my ancestors formed there own last name. NEWMAN
I believe that! And Freeman too
@@donaldnewman5836 I know a lot of white Newmans
@@natatiawright4489 Yes! I would love these names. I hate Johnson.
I never heard of this but it makes perfect sense. Thank you so much.
As a Williams myself.I knew Williams was number 1. lol
Very interesting. It resembles the geographic pattern of original slavery and some of the movements to escape the entrenched southern ports. Really enjoyed this!
Thank you for stopping by 🙏🏽
I’m a WILLIAMS!!!! I knew we’d be #1 there are literally a million of us!!! Haha 🙌🏾 I love us all! ✊🏾✊🏾
@@s_a_willi exactly 💯
I'm a Williams too
Well, it lets you know that the Williams family owned the most enslaved people.
God bless the families of all black people with last names in this list. However, please understand that this is not your original name. This was a name given to you. I understand that you may feel proud of the name that you were given but remember that this is not your name. your lineage traces back to Africa where another name of family origin was given to you. Respectfully, we are not William’s, or Thomas, or Davis, or smith, or jones, or Jenkins. We just use those names because our history was erased. So please remember when you feel proud of the name you hold onto today, it was given to your relative by a person or family who cared nothing about you.
I converted to Islam and i changed my first and last name❤ I went from Lisa to Kalima & Sheffield to Muhammad the same as my husband❤
🙏🏾
Thank you for the list of Sir names. I already have several, but not with the videos
I just knew Jones would be #1. I’m genuinely shocked 😮
Very interesting list, I guessed most of them right too, I was born a Meade but my mother's side and maiden name was Taylor and I married a Davis 😊
@@hadiyadavis2084
My grandmother was a Meade born in King and Queen County, Virginia in 1900. Her family were possibly descendants of General Meade's slaves in the Civil War. He owned hundreds of acres of land and lived in the area.
There wasn't a push to call us black until the civil Rights movement indigenous ppl becoming citizens of the United states 1960's with approval to be able to vote. Black was derogatory before that.
-----
We're African American as of 1986 lawfully on paper to disenfranchise us from the land we've cultivated thousands of years and the grand cities/towns we've built. All of which was land grabbed and parceled up to display lawfully ownership of in the 1800's moving forward. The US was only the 13 colonies 24years prior solely on the east coast. Millions of acres was sold at cheap rates to immigrants of European origin, fast forward 1980's into 2000's more of our neighborhoods sold to foreigners to dwindle what little we have nationwide. The gas station, convenience store, all local businesses, even food restaurants.
-----
It's pretty Obvious at this point when JB says: you not "black" if you don't vote for me, then invites 8million foreigners (Washington Post) giving them an array of benefits such as housing. When rent in New York is over 3k/mo in some areas. We're homeless when 300 yrs prior we accepted the newcomers showing off our brilliant inventions that are used around the world. Example the traffic light. Our craftsmanship and work ethic as a whole used to be bar none. We got repaid with westward expansion, IOU's, laws that work against us, years of Jim Crow, exploitation, eminent domain on land, drugs, guns, present day ignorance of our ppl and about our ppl from others.
I would have thought “ Jones” would have been number one. Lol!
@maureensorey4681
I was expecting Smith, Johnson second and Williams third.
IM BLAQ & PROUD MINES IS RICE I MET PLENTY OVER THE YEARS HELLO EVERYONE 👋🏽
@mariejones2669
My mother's maiden name is Rice, she's from Catopa, Alabama. And my middle name is Marie❤❤❤❤😊😊😊
This was a Really Good video. So many names was in Texas and Georgia and New York
The reason I don’t agree is because so many families were split up and sold down the road …. Ten sibling sold equals 10 slave owners name…. We should be THE most loving to each other….. WE really are brothers and sister 💕
What are you in disagreement about? Just curious.
I have not encountered too many of us, however, grateful to see HARRIS on the list.
@@docharris4305 me, neither
@@docharris4305 yippee, we made the list 🎉
You need to visit NC
I KNEW Williams was in here.Lol. That's my last name and its VERY Common.😃😃
Though these are the names adopted by our ancestors, I will choose to look at it with a sense of awe and pride! WE ARE STILL HERE!!! We as a people have survived and prosper even though they tried to stop us. WE ARE, the creators, inventors and builders of this nation. So....the next time we encounter another member of our tribe, treat as an opportunity to expand on a collective history. You may just learn something wondrous and new about the familial tree😊.
I've heard of blind deaf and dumb you take the cake
@@joycelynthomas2481 they stole your land property history life's why would they not steal your name as well. These names are your original surnames. Take the name Washington that land was bought by royal people in Britain for their family, to flee the Spanish Inquisition years and wars brought change , they became servants on their own lands, then a general/ boss etc was sent to the Washington and took their name from the true children who own the land, relabelled them slaves. Check your surname on ancient Neg ro Family Crests Europe.
The royals and people were originally blck renamed again as Africa America or Jamaica etc.
Can you do a part two ,like a top 40 i was hoping too see Willis lol
👍🏽👍🏽 we will do a followup
I thank you for sharing this knowledge❤ I politely and respectfully ask that our people STOP being shown to be dancing and partying. Also, from what I see in two beautiful videos of parents sitting with their beautiful babies, but the adult is seen sleeping as their precious baby is reading their book. Please, this is NOT a criticism but only a heartfelt suggestion for the images of our Black, beautiful people ❤ Again thank you and God bless your beautiful body of work, telling part of our people's journey in America.
I wasn’t surprised to see Jones, Jackson, Johnson, Smith, Williams…I was surprised to see my birth name, Brown on the list
@@brownbabyunchained1341 my mom is a brown
Thanks for this information
Mine are Towles, Drumgould, Winchester, Farmer, Morris, Phinney, Garland, Wordlow, Patterson, Cain,.
very nice ❤
I noticed u have phinney, My immediate grandfather is Finney , my dad's dad ✊🏽
I have Davis (maiden name), Johnson (mother's maiden name), Goines and Tyus in my family tree. They are from Arkansas and Louisiana. My married name is Rosebur (Mississippi) and there are various spellings for it (Rosebud, Roseboro and Rosebough).
It's nice to see this informative video regarding us.
How can you find other last names?
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1tqfJzYj_CffRzkdyXeQwALXINXE9k8dPT3pusCsYgFg/edit?usp=sharing
Brenson in Anderson, South Carolina
They may have not originally been our last names, but they are ours now. Ironically there are more black people named "White" than black people named "Black" or white people named "Black".
There wasn't a push to call us black until the civil Rights movement indigenous ppl becoming citizens of the United states 1960's with approval to be able to vote. Black was derogatory before that.
-----
We're African American as of 1986 lawfully on paper to disenfranchise us from the land we've cultivated thousands of years and the grand cities/towns we've built. All of which was land grabbed and parceled up to display lawfully ownership of in the 1800's moving forward. The US was only the 13 colonies 24years prior solely on the east coast. Millions of acres was sold at cheap rates to immigrants of European origin, fast forward 1980's into 2000's more of our neighborhoods sold to foreigners to dwindle what little we have nationwide. The gas station, convenience store, all local businesses, even food restaurants.
-----
It's pretty Obvious at this point when JB says: you not "black" if you don't vote for me, then invites 8million foreigners (Washington Post) giving them an array of benefits such as housing. When rent in New York is over 3k/mo in some areas. We're homeless when 300 yrs prior we accepted the newcomers showing off our brilliant inventions that are used around the world. Example the traffic light. Our craftsmanship and work ethic as a whole used to be bar none. We got repaid with westward expansion, IOU's, laws that work against us, years of Jim Crow, exploitation, eminent domain on land, drugs, guns, present day ignorance of our ppl and about our ppl from others.
Brown family checking in! 💕
@@SimplisticallyDigital Brown family checking in from Georgia
@@wenonamorris1879 Yes! Mine are from Early county! 🙌🏿
Brown Family checking in from North Carolina! 😊
@@jamelewiggins7683 Hey, hey. hey!
Brown family here in TN. My dad's mother was a Brown.
So interesting that you are doing this. I like to write fiction in my free time and I came across a list with like 300-400 surnames that most African Americans have in this country, and before I give a surname to any of my fictional (always African American) characters I always investigate to see which states the name is most prominent in.
We should just say there is a high population of black people in Ga. Its ok. We know lol
Thats why I hate when folks say "There's Atlanta and then there's Georgia" as if Atlanta is the only area with a considerable amount of Black folks in the state. The only part of GA where you dont see too many of us is in the mountainous areas north of the Atlanta metro area. Other than that, we are all over the state including the country parts.
Im a Taylor by marriage, my mom is Brown/Davis from Georgia and my paternal grandmother is a Robinson
We might be related!!
@@okaycola2 what's your last name and where you from! You never know
I’m related to The Robinsons of Georgia.
@@LibbyEdwards100 . There are tons of Black Robinson’s in Camden County Georgia area. Mainly Woodbine GA and St. Mary’s GA.
Love this video.
This was interesting 👍🏾
Glad you enjoyed
Great vid.
I’m a Robinson and we are deep In North Carolina you need to do a part 2 Durham and Charlotte North Carolina even South Carolina thanks for the info
I didn't make the list. I feel special ❤❤. Always foreverrrr... Coleman 😊
And Cole
Washington is big in Texas, Mississippi, and Georgia. Yet, George Washington never traveled further south than Virginia.
And, where are the yt Washington's
@@barnesmalcolm deep
Washington is an abbreviation of the Washitaw American Indian name. Many of them were pushed further West by the European expansions. It is not a European surname at its roots
@@DJDav16 Washitaw Moors
@@barnesmalcolm I was wondering the same thing. I've know yt folks who had all the other names mentioned. But I've never met a yt Washington.
This is great! Georgia is really representing! 👍🏾
Yup.
As a GA native, my name is straight from here. Even my wife, who's originally from Missouri, has this state as one of the representations of her maiden name.
just a question // what abut Newton
How righteously educational
Yay!!! THOMAS is #8 That’s my last name. ❤❤❤ #6 JACKSON my cousins and #5 BROWN is my mother’s maiden name Wow!!! How accurate is this video!!! THANKS FOR SHARING!!! ❤❤❤
Im a Jackson from Tennessee
I got cousins with the last name Thomas. I went to school with some Jacksons and Browns.
Jackson ❤... It's a bunch of US 💪🏾
My Jackson's come from Mississippi
I'm surprised Scott isn't on the list
I can't believe that SCOTT isn't on the list... It's a real common last name also... What's up with that.....????
Cann and Scott and also Evans and Calloway are very big all over the states
A few of us have questions about our last names?
There wasn't a push to call us black until the civil Rights movement indigenous ppl becoming citizens of the United states 1960's with approval to be able to vote. Black was derogatory before that.
-----
We're African American as of 1986 lawfully on paper to disenfranchise us from the land we've cultivated thousands of years and the grand cities/towns we've built. All of which was land grabbed and parceled up to display lawfully ownership of in the 1800's moving forward. The US was only the 13 colonies 24years prior solely on the east coast. Millions of acres was sold at cheap rates to immigrants of European origin, fast forward 1980's into 2000's more of our neighborhoods sold to foreigners to dwindle what little we have nationwide. The gas station, convenience store, all local businesses, even food restaurants.
-----
It's pretty Obvious at this point when JB says: you not "black" if you don't vote for me, then invites 8million foreigners (Washington Post) giving them an array of benefits such as housing. When rent in New York is over 3k/mo in some areas. We're homeless when 300 yrs prior we accepted the newcomers showing off our brilliant inventions that are used around the world. Example the traffic light. Our craftsmanship and work ethic as a whole used to be bar none. We got repaid with westward expansion, IOU's, laws that work against us, years of Jim Crow, exploitation, eminent domain on land, drugs, guns, present day ignorance of our ppl and about our ppl from others.
My maternal grandmother was a Meggett from South Carolina. There is a Meggett, SC right outside of Charleston. I visited there once.