Exploring your African American heritage has historically presented challenges, especially before 1870, when records rarely mentioned the names of enslaved people. However, it is becoming increasingly easier to uncover these histories.
A growing number of databases, indexes, and digital collections are now making it easier than ever to find information about formerly enslaved ancestors. Among them is Enslaved.org, a hub that provides lists and other information for discovering the names and lives of these persons. Now, collaboration between Enslaved.org and FamilySearch has created a new and exciting resource, using the 1900 United States census.
Enslaved.org
In 2018, Michigan State University (MSU) created the Enslaved.org website, the full title of which is “Enslaved: Peoples of the Historical Slave Trade.” This website, with its dozens of collections, seeks to find and organize the names of the enslaved, slaveholders, or anyone who in some way participated in slavery in early America.
MSU and FamilySearch have combined their resources to create and publish a substantial new database. The full dataset is called “Two Million Black Americans Born Prior to Emancipation in the 1900 U.S. Census.” Because earlier censuses did not often name enslaved people, it was believed that the 1900 United States census could identify an estimated 2 million people who were born into slavery before emancipation. FamilySearch worked with Brigham Young University’s Record Linking Lab to identify these individuals found in the 1900 census. These names and the related census data will be published on Enslaved.org. When the full dataset is downloaded, it can be manipulated for in-depth use in scholarly or scientific research.
The FamilySearch collection, however, can be accessed directly online and does not need to be downloaded before it can be used. Its focus is the typical family researcher or historian and is filtered for the 2 million Black Americans born before emancipation.
Stephen Valentine, FamilySearch executive vice president, elaborated on the collection: “In addition to sharing this valuable dataset, we’re excited that scholars and descendants can access original historical images and linked family records in the FamilySearch Family Tree.” The potential exists for adding more names from other United States censuses as well (1870 and 1880).
A One-of-a-Kind Database
The “Two Million Black Americans Born Prior to Emancipation in the 1900 U.S. Census” dataset includes the following information for Black Americans who were likely enslaved:
- Name
- Sex
- Birthplace
- Birth year
- Residence in 1900
- A link to a profile on FamilySearch Family Tree that includes a life sketch and additional sources
You might be wondering what makes this project different than others created in the past. This project is different because it filters the 1900 United States federal census to include only African Americans born before emancipation. Each recorded name includes a unique digital identifier (a PID link) to a FamilySearch Family Tree ancestor page and a unique archival resource key (an ARK link) to the record image.
MSU’s “Two Million Black Americans Born Prior to Emancipation in the 1900 United States Census” dataset is accessible for free and will help you name and research the formerly enslaved in your family tree. To learn how to use the MSU dataset for academic or in-depth research, see the PDF here. The FamilySearch alternative search interface, simpler and more accessible for the typical family researcher, is also available for this specific collection.
Common Male Names of the Formerly Enslaved
Slaveholders commonly gave a first name to the enslaved persons they had newly acquired. In some cases, an enslaved person might have kept a second name used only by their friends and family. During the colonial period common male names of enslaved persons include Jupiter, Titus, Cato, Hector, Augustus, Caesar, and Hannibal. Some scholars have suggested that slaveholders may have chosen these classical names to show off their own learning. Other scholars believe that giving a name such as those mentioned above mocked the enslaved.
Still later, more common names were given to males, such as Jack, Tom, Joe, Prince, and John. Names for enslaved persons might also have been influenced by where they lived. In French-speaking Louisiana, for example, you might see names such as Francois or Leon.
Common Female Names of the Formerly Enslaved
Early slaveholders sometimes chose classical names for an enslaved woman as well, names such as Venus, Diana, Juno, or Flora. Other common female slave names include Bet, Sarah, Nan, Sary, or Mary. By the mid-1800s, many enslaved people had the same names as their white counterparts, such as Margaret, Sarah, Amanda, or Esther.
Changing given names was not as common as changing one’s surname, but it did happen. Additionally, a woman once called “Bet” or “Nan” may have gone by “Elizabeth" or “Nancy" after emancipation.
Common Surnames of the Formerly Enslaved
Many enslaved people were denied a surname of their choosing. They were often given the last name of the slaveholder, if a surname was ever used. In many documents, such as emancipation papers, sale or estate records, and censuses, the names of enslaved persons were not recorded with surnames. Children might have taken the surname of their enslaved father or mother, the slaveholder at the time of the enslaved child’s birth, or, even later, the surname of a new slaveholder. A mother, father, and child who were related by blood may each have had a different surname.
After emancipation, a formerly enslaved person might have taken a new surname altogether or might have kept a surname passed down for generations. Not all people with the same surname in the same area were related, and people with different surnames might have been closely related.
Some common surnames of newly emancipated families include Freeman, Freedmen, or Washington, but in reality, surnames varied greatly.
Other Databases and Indexes About the Formerly Enslaved
In recent years, many helpful databases and indexes have been created and published online. Adding them to your research plan is a must. Here is a list of a few collections that might help you discover your African American heritage:
- SlaveVoyages—This website has compiled records of the largest slave trades across the Atlantic Ocean. Researchers can learn about the origins and relocations of more than 12 million African people.
- Digital Library on American Slavery—This website is a hub for 3 other websites, with records mostly from North Carolina. The linked websites are Slave Deeds, North Carolina Slave Notices, and Race and Slavery Petitions.
- Virginia Untold: The African American Narrative—The focus of this extensive collection is pre-1865 African American history and genealogy. Collection subjects include bills of sale, cohabitation registers, church records, deeds of emancipation, and much more. The Library of Virginia supports this project.
- Federal Records that Help Identify Former Enslaved People and Slave Holders—This guide to researching enslaved persons in your family tree is provided by the National Archives. The available federal records include census records, military records, Freedmen’s Bureau records, and many more. This 7-page guide has links to Fugitive Slave Act case files and slave ship manifests as well, and it can be downloaded for free.
- 10 Million Names—This collaborative project is dedicated to naming the estimated 10 million people of African descent who were enslaved in the United States. The website gives researchers access to documents and indexes such as school records and military records.
- African American Historical Records—FamilySearch offers researchers free access to historical records, ancestor profiles, pictures, and more.
- African American Genealogy—This guide from the FamilySearch Research Wiki will give you even more ideas for your research plan. It includes a variety of links to both free and paid websites.
- United States, Freedman's Bank Records, 1865–1874—This free dataset includes a name index and images of registers and records for 67,000 people who opened accounts in the Freedman’s Savings and Trust Company. The records include a variety of family information.
- Tracing Your African American Heritage—This FamilySearch blog article and accompanying links will give you a great outline to follow as you trace your African American roots.
Your Family Awaits
What will you find as you search these resources for your formerly enslaved ancestors? We would love to hear about your discoveries in the comments below. If you know of other helpful databases and indexes we didn’t mention, feel free to share those too!
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