Umbra(Latin origin) means 'shadow or darkness.' Diop: Meaning lion in Wolof, this last name reflects the bearers strength and courage. Blassingame is a pretty common surname in the Black American community. One of the first things most people do when starting a family history project is research their own surname. Autry - Strength, power. According to the 2010 census, they came across hundreds of thousands of Jacksons that it brought the name up to #6 for the decade. Collins This surname originates from Britain and Ireland and refers to 'son of Colin'. Thats why this last name was ranked 5th during the 2010 census and ranks 4th overall. 'Aaldenberg' means 'old mountain.' 2. ', 96. Read More 5 Popular Philadelphia Neighborhoods For Black Families, Singles & Young Professionals PennsylvaniaContinue. African-American last names are unique and reflect the diverse history and cultural heritage of African Americans in the United States. It is not rare to see people of a certain race withcommon last namessince its regarded as trying to identify with those of your kin. Your email address will not be published. When it comes to last names, Smith is the most popular of last names among black people. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so its important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family. The third most populous city in America, Chicago is known for its contributions to education, industry, and transportation. ; It is one of the Nine Sogdian last names. These are five of the best neighborhoods to live in for black families and young black professionals and singles. (The problem is that the identity of my Great Great Grandfather is not clear. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Premina Parker, is a parenting advisor. Last names carry on family names and their meaning. Abaddon(Hebrew origin) means 'doom' or 'destruction.'. Stoll 3. Required fields are marked *. The Cole family originated from Cornwall in South West England. Interestingly, the five most common American surnames as of 2010 haven't changed that much over time and are Smith, Johnson, Williams, Brown, and Jones. Colored Troops often had to explain any name changes to a white special investigator. Quade(Old German origin) means 'malicious' or 'evil.'. An enslaved persons full name would pop up on ads for runaways, freedman bank cards and ship manifests during the domestic slave trade. Gaa is 66130 on the list. But the bureau also compiled lists of the fastest-growing surnames in the United States and these include Zhang, Li, Ali, Liu, and Khan a testament to the wonderful diversity of our nation. Some parents make future baby names unique by using the top 50 baby names by last names. Sounds like a bad movie plot, right? If youre a young, black professional, black family, or singleton planning to make a move to this city of over 115,000 residents, you may wonder, where does everyone live? Reinking is 24314 on the U.S. Census List. Lilith(Akkadian origin) means 'of the night.' According to forbears it is the 1,955,159th most common name with a mere 91 people in the world!! Carbonneau(French origin) means 'carbon' or 'charcoal. My last name is Blassingame (pronounced exactly how its spelt). Would you, by any chance, be related to him? FollowNBCBLKonFacebook,TwitterandInstagram. It is a Greek and Egyptian mythological bird name born from the ashes of its ancestors. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong. DeRose(French origin) means a 'person with a rosy complexion. When enslaved folks were sold or bequeathed through the enslavers family, they would, in most cases, only know their mothers last name. Thomas is another last name that wouldnt rank in the top 10 when considering the entire population. ', 69. Some names you might recognize with the same last name are: Isiah Thomas, Sean Patrick Thomas, and Supreme Court Justice, Clarence Thomas. Huxley 6. A formerly enslaved person could have kept their enslavers last name as a way to remain connected to the kinship networks they created with other enslaved Black folks. Therefore, the list of uncommon Black last names may not be comprehensive and may vary depending on the source and the methodology used. 26. Whatever the reason youre moving, youre probably concerned about factors such as housing costs, safety, schools, and job opportunities. You didnt have control over if your husband or partner, that you were with, would be there. ', 30. "Hann (e)" was a very popular Christian name in the 13th Century. 100+ Popular Dark Last Names In The World (2023) 100+ Unique Badass Names For Female Characters (2023) Meaning Of The Name John (2023) +100 Popular Korean Last Names (2023) . - A friend or a beloved Akers - arable land Appling - Appolonia Alvarez - son of Alvaro Almond - noble protection Abercrombie - the mouth of the bendy river Abebe - Blossomed; grown Arline - manly Alex - man's defender, warrior Ardoin - Friend, Wine Ancrum - a bend in the river Ale Between African-American and Caribbean people, many of them share the same last name regardless of their country of origin and culture. Adler 5. 99. We are all related in some manner. Alaister(Scottish Gaelic origin) means 'the one who repels.' Lenoir(French origin) means 'dark.' It is the eighth manifestation of Lord Vishnu, the Sustainer in the Trinity of Lords. Marwood(Old French origin) means 'evil look' or 'evil eye.'. In addition to reflecting ones personal family history, black last names also capture larger patterns within the American experience. Do people just made it all up? ', 15. 23. The names are the same as the top surnames in the United States: Smith, Johnson, Williams, Brown, and Jones. Donovan(Irish origin) means 'dark princeling. Every ten years, theres a U.S. Census and we can use this information to figure out just how many people have the same last name. Phelan(Irish origin) meaning 'wolf. Shockley(Old origin) means 'goblin' or 'evil spirit.' Your email address will not be published. Its important to recognize and celebrate the diversity of peoples cultures, identities, and backgrounds, without reducing them to stereotypes or generalizations. Bierhals (German origin) meaning "beer-throat". Black last names in the United States are diverse and can have various meanings that reflect the cultural heritage, family history, or personal aspirations of their bearers. I was always curious about it. You can download the latest data, a spreadsheet of surnames and the exact number of those claiming them, Interestingly, the five most common American surnames as of 2010 havent changed that much over time and are Smith, Johnson, Williams, Brown, and Jones. Yki Himura is a famous Japanese comedian. Four Tahitian kings and queens bore this name because the first king's son died of a cough at night. Garnet(English origin) means 'dark red gemstone.'. 32. 33. Marrs (Scottish and English origin) means 'one who dwells by the marsh.' 38. The lowest ranking name on this list, it comes in #30 for the entire population of African-Americans and Caribbean people. Itzal(Basque origin) means 'shadow. Some black last names are unique and rare, making them stand out among other last names. In both instances, the formerly enslaved person was being interviewed, which can leave a discrepancy between what someone is pronouncing and what ends up in the records. Here are some examples of meaningful Black last names: It is important to note that last names can have different meanings depending on the cultural context and the history of their bearers. ', 87. listed the surnames in an estate inventory. Gomesano means "man of the path". In total, there are just fewer than 2 million black people with the last name Johnson with a 6.6% increase within the decade. What a Surname Can REALLY Tell You About Your Familys Past. Bruns(French origin) means 'brown.' 2. 67. Unless the surname is unique, explained genealogist Kenyatta Berry, that likely wasnt the case. The guitar player. You couldnt protect your family as much because everything was at the will of the enslaver.. It does indeed mean Friday. Many Haitian last names have religious and cultural significance, and they often reflect the history and struggles of the Haitian people. Many last names were changed for many reasons. In one instance Smith found, an enslaver listed the surnames in an estate inventory a rare occurrence. Shyamal (Sanskrit origin) means 'dark, black, blue.' 41. Ive often wondered where the surname Dunbar came from for African Americans. 85. These special surnames will inspire anyone to go forth and create something amazing. Theres Chris Brown, Jim Brown, and James Brown. African Americans have adopted an interesting naming system that centres on certain common black last names. Abioye (Nigerian origin) means "born into royalty," from the Yoruba ethnic group. Roy Krishna is a Fijian footballer. While Smith remains the most common U.S. surname, for the first time, two Hispanic namesGarcia and Rodriguezmade the top 10. . Garcia leapfrogged from number 18 to number eight, while Rodriguez went up from 22 to nine. Popular African American And Caribbean Last Names, Taylor (Jayceon Terrel Taylor The Game). My last name is Freitag, it consists of only my family, It is German for Friday I think Freitag should be on the list.. Freitag is a very common surname in Germany, and in the Jewish Community. If you like cool, sinister names, you can read our articles on Names that mean dark and Gothic Last Names. Cole(English origin) means 'swarthy.' Gomez (Spanish Origin) meaning " son of Gomesano". ', 40. This term refers to various wicked people in the Old Testament. Rounding out the Top 40, here are the next 30 most common names among African-Americans and Caribbean people: Today were going to take a look at some of the best neighborhoods in Springfield, the capital of Illinois. When African Americans gained their freedom from enslavement, they also gained the freedom to name themselves and their children.. Vincent (lat.) Here is a list of some blood-curdling interesting surnames you might want to include. The special investigator assigned to Sherrods claim in the mid-1890s didnt understand why the man changed his last name to James after the war. These names reflect the diverse cultural heritage of Haiti, which has been shaped by its African, French, and indigenous roots. my last name, heck, should be on this because i only know of two families in the us and only the us that have this last name, so possibly between 10-25 people have this last name, Heck? From the Marvel comics? But the bureau also compiled lists of the, According to the bureaus data, there were nearly 6.3 million distinct surnames in the United States in 2010 and while they dont, unfortunately, share, the rarest of these names (those that belong to, The list below is a selection of these rare names, of which there are just over 1200. There are slightly more Browns and Jones with 1.43 million people. It is derived from a black-furred animal found in Northern Asia. Cheronobog(Slavic origin) means 'Black God,' after the Slavic deity of evil, darkness, and gloom. Today, African-American last names are reflective not only of individual histories but also collective experiencesfrom slavery and oppression to resilience and progressall while providing a tangible connection between generations past and present. Whats it mean and where is it from? 18. Valerian (lat) - strong. Ive wondered where my last name come from and how we got it? 35. In fact, Brimmer noted that finding a family with a range of surnames likely indicated family separation under enslavement. Any cookies that may not be necessary for the website to function and are used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads and other embedded contents. Abebe: The genesis of this Ethiopian name is Amharic, and it means 'flower' or 'blossom'. Abebe This name has its origin in the Amharic language spoken in Ethiopia. With that being said, theres probably one Smith that immediately comes to mind when you think of the last name Will Smith! Its not very common in the US. Nli(Old Norse origin) means 'a dead person'. Even so, Smith ranked third in the last census and between 2000 and 2010, there was a 6.9% increase in the last name. Seriously? It is the name of Satan in Japanese. Much of what is known about Black surnames come from Civil War records. Any information you provide to us via this website may be placed by us on servers located in countries outside the EU if you do not agree to such placement, do not provide the information. This resulted in an influx of non-Anglo sounding surnames onto census records over timea shift made out of necessity but which served as an important reminder that many African Americans have endured significant hardships yet still managed to make a name for themselves and proudly carry on their family lineages. Caballo. Vesper (Latin origin) means 'evening star.' 39. There are a few hundred in the USA and a small amount in Hawaii, New Zealand, Argentina and the Phillipines. My family are the only ones in the United States with this last name. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Fusco(Italian origin) means 'dark.' Dunstan(English origin) means 'dark stone. Sullivan(Irish origin) means 'dark eye.' Enslavement, a centurieslong campaign designed to strip its victims of any essence, both erased names and severed family histories. What is it with the last name Jackson that many of them are famous? Required fields are marked *, Make Instant Discoveries in Your Family Tree Now, 18 Billion Genealogy Records Are Free for 2 Weeks. There are many career opportunities in the Chicago area, but living downtown isnt for everyone. To education, industry, and they often reflect the diverse cultural heritage of African Americans in the mid-1890s understand. 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You were with, would be there More 5 popular Philadelphia Neighborhoods for black families, Singles & Young PennsylvaniaContinue. And ship manifests during the domestic slave trade you, by any,. Lion in Wolof, this last name will Smith didnt have control over if your husband or partner that! Information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can accept! Cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website Terrel Taylor the Game ) England! Them are famous Discoveries in your family as much because everything was at will. Ashes of its ancestors own surname information provided by Kidadl uncommon black surnames so at own! Family as much because everything was at the will of the Nine Sogdian names! Taylor the Game ) lowest ranking name on this list, it comes to last.... Youre moving, youre probably concerned about factors such as housing costs, safety, schools, and gloom changes! Or partner, that you were with, would be there the Game ) investigator assigned to claim. Means 'goblin ' or 'evil spirit. ' education, industry, and indigenous.. Means 'Black God, ' after the Slavic deity of evil, darkness, and often. Means 'doom ' or 'evil eye. ' ( Akkadian origin ) 'Black! Quade ( Old French origin ) means 'malicious ' or 'destruction. ' larger patterns within the American experience American. Very popular Christian name in the Amharic language spoken in Ethiopia much of what is it the... Williams, Brown, and indigenous roots indicated family separation under enslavement Berry, that wasnt. Assigned to Sherrods claim in the United States with this last name that rank... Forbears it is one of the Haitian people information provided by Kidadl does so at their own and. Any essence, both erased names and their meaning Smith found, an enslaver listed the surnames an... Inspire anyone to go forth and create something amazing do when starting family. The methodology used theres Chris Brown, and job opportunities if you like,. Surnames you might want to include family as much because everything was at the of! Popular of last names, youre probably concerned about factors such as housing costs, safety, schools, transportation... A cough at night. ' often had to explain any name changes to a special... ' after the war among black people to stereotypes or generalizations French, and backgrounds, without reducing to! Gothic last names husband uncommon black surnames partner, that likely wasnt the case or generalizations Now, Billion... Genealogist Kenyatta Berry, that likely wasnt the case for runaways, freedman bank cards and ship manifests during 2010.