Sounds like a bad movie plot, right? With last names that are uncommon any male or female character will get more ambiguous and intriguing, and is more likely to grab the reader's attention. Here are some of the most common Black last names in the United States: It is important to note that last names can be influenced by factors such as geography, cultural heritage, and historical events, among other factors. During the last census, this name was the most common with over 774,000. Oluale Kossula: Thats the name author Zora Neale Hurston used when she greeted Cudjo Lewis, the last known survivor of the transatlantic slave trade and the subject of her nonfiction book Barracoon. He was delighted at being addressed by the name his mother gave him, according to Hurstons account of the hours they spent in 1927 piecing together his life on that balmy summer day in Alabama. DeRose(French origin) means a 'person with a rosy complexion. The surname Harris is an English surname which means. When enslaved folks were sold or bequeathed through the enslavers family, they would, in most cases, only know their mothers last name. 3. 91. Ivy -seems to be sweet and harmless, but could do some damage. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 28. These Gothic last names have a dark and scary touch to them. Below is a list of various Cuban last names: Common black last names include Williams, Johnson, Brown, Jones, Taylor, Wilson, Moore, Davis, Smith, and Anderson. - healthy, secure. 12. What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. Jacob Black is a fictional character in 'The Twilight Saga. 61. 97Krishna(Indian origin) means 'dark or black.' Here are some of the most popular black last names in the United States: Its important to note that while these last names are commonly associated with the black community, they are not exclusively used by people of African descent. After emancipation, once they could formally establish who they were absent of the enslavers influence, many Black folks chose the surname Freeman or Freedman. ', 66. Quade(Old German origin) means 'malicious' or 'evil.'. There are slightly more Browns and Jones with 1.43 million people. 100+ Unique Badass Last Names (2022) January 3, 2022. We are all related in some manner. Southwark. 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. You might be wondering about having a meaningful first name and dark surnames for your baby or fictional family. Theres actor James Earl Jones, music producer Quincy Jones, TV personality Star Jones, and more! There are less than 500 Randrups in Denmark it is a protected name so it cannot be used unless it is already your surname or you apply for permission to use it. 92. Naming post-emancipation was fluid, and records were poorly kept, if at all. What I like about this name is it reflects which tribal group of South Africa I come from. Donovan(Irish origin) means 'dark princeling. Naming, particularly after emancipation, was a complex matter influenced by newfound agency, and the reasons behind choosing a particular surname varied. 85. 13. Characteristics of African-American surnames often reveal clues about the familys background and experiences. There are some freitags in Bastrop county,texas. Blakely(English origin) means 'dark or black.' Archibald Douglas was a Scottish nobleman and Duke of Touraine. If you purchase using the buy now button we may earn a small commission. ', 83. Ive always believed the greatest generation are those enslaved people who were freed because they had nothing but each other, Smith said. African Americans have adopted an interesting naming system that centres on certain common black last names. There are over 2.4 million African-American and Caribbean people with that last name. Yami is the name of a Tibetan Death Goddess. in Public Relations/Mass Communications from Kent State University. in Professional Writing and English and an M.A. It was about the typical habit of human beings tohave a naming systemthat can be related to people of their kind. 3. Some common primary concerns are safety and housing costs. If you have been doing research for a while, you know which ones they are. Let's enter another aspect of the world, the dark and mysterious one! According to the bureaus data, there were nearly 6.3 million distinct surnames in the United States in 2010 and while they dont, unfortunately, sharethe rarest of these names (those that belong to less than 100 people), they do share those last names with only 100 entries each. Example: Anders Randolf was a very successful Silent Movie Actor, in films from about 1912 -1930. There are many career opportunities in the Chicago area, but living downtown isnt for everyone. Jarvis - The coolest of the Britpop crew. 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. 22. Kelly - A flirty and joyful last name. When I gittee in Americky soil, Mr. Jim Meather he try callee my name, but it too long, you unnerstand me Den I say, You callee me Cudjo. Check your inbox for your latest news from us. 1. 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. Garnet(English origin) means 'dark red gemstone.'. My last name is Blassingame (pronounced exactly how its spelt). 46. As an Amazon Associate, Kidadl earns from qualifying purchases. One of the first things most people do when starting a family history project is research their own surname. However, some uncommon last names may include: Zzyzx Qiana Vierra Truglio Pfister Ngo Lippincott Kucera Hsen Fimbres Eckberg Choquette Brousseau Arquette Wilke These last names are not common in many countries, but they may be more frequently found in certain regions or ethnic communities. Judge Jurgen Griffin is a fictional character in the 'Judge Dredd comic series.'. Lol, might have been a made-up surname. 21. Guevara: This last name has Spanish roots and is associated with the revolutionary leader Che Guevara. Some cultures also hyphenate the mother and fathers names or give the baby the last name of the parent of the same gender. Naming whether it was someones first or last was a strategy used by enslaved people to maintain familial ties despite being forcibly separated. Autry - Strength, power. Asra(Arabic origin) means 'a night journey. Did they take that name because they grew up on that plantation? Andre - Man, warrior. Your privacy is important to us. 57. These names reflect the diverse cultural heritage of Haiti, which has been shaped by its African, French, and indigenous roots. . Poverly 23. It can be a cool nickname for a person with a fierce temper. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents. 21. Interested in Researching Your Surname or Those in Your Family Tree? 2. Reinking is 24314 on the U.S. Census List. Image: John Nygren who lives alone in a shack near Iron River, Michigan. 1937. I agree with you that my last name should also be on this list There are less than 15, Toughlians in the world, My Danish surname of RANDRUP is quite rare. Colored Troops often had to explain any name changes to a white special investigator. Gatlin. Choosing your surname gives you that power to say, This is what Im gonna be called from now on, explained genealogist Kenyatta Berry. Birsha(Biblical origin) means 'evil. Berry, who is researching Simkins, said keeping his fathers last name could have been a way to deny his father the ability to wash his hands of how he treated the people he enslaved. Black baby names find their roots all over the world. Yamimeans 'darkness.' Look the list of famous black girl names; hence most black people have some familiar Black Girl Names, which are used by most of them. 3. Theres tremendous variation and pattern, Brimmer said. Thomas is another last name that wouldnt rank in the top 10 when considering the entire population. People seemed to feel both the freedom to push aside anything related to enslavers or to keep given surnames because of some connection to them. This name forms from Tahitian words, 'po' and 'mare'. McKenna 24. They were beaten and tortured and suffered and couldnt read and couldnt write and boy what they did with what they had. Dat do.. Hall: English origin, derived from the Old English word heall meaning hall., Thomas: Aramaic origin, derived from the personal name Tomas meaning twin.. In the English speaking world the idea of a family name only goes back about 5-6 centuries. Lenoir(French origin) means 'dark.' In Canada our extended family is the ONLY family with this surname! Many of these names have roots in French and African cultures and have been passed down through generations. Diop: Meaning lion in Wolof, this last name reflects the bearers strength and courage. Cary(Somerset origin) means 'descendant of Ciardha.' creative tips and more. The surname Williams occurs roughly 550 times per 100,000 people in the U.S. Between African-American and Caribbean people, many of them share the same last name regardless of their country of origin and culture. Acheron(Greek origin) means 'river of sorrow.'. Channel your inner artist and creator with these creative last names. There are around 624,252 people with this last name, a 7.1% increase from the previous decade. The conditions of enslavement allowed for someone to be sold as many as six times. Bierhals (German origin) meaning "beer-throat". 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. While looking through the National Archives in early 2020, Smith found a Civil War pension record for a United States Colored Troops veteran named Abram Sherrod. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The most common African last names include Abimbola, Asare, Diallo, Kamara, and Ndiaye. When it comes to famous names you might recognize, theres Miles Davis, Viola Davis, and Angela Davis. It is also the name of Lord Shiva according to Hindu mythology. 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. Choquet is of French origin. We use cookies to bring you the best experience, record visits, serve ads, provide signup forms and deliver other essential functions. I have an extremely rare last name. If so, many of you have probably used Ancestrys fun tool to see how the distribution of various surnames has changed throughout American history (with data available between 1840 and 1920), but did you know that the U.S. Census Bureau provides more recent information on surname usage? 'Evil. ' certain common black last names have roots in French and cultures... Your inbox for your baby or fictional family name forms from Tahitian words 'po..., if at all, serve ads, provide signup forms and deliver other essential functions by! 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