Where did your last name come from?
If you’re African-American, it is probably the family name of the white people who owned your ancestors hundreds of years ago. Or it may have come about as the kind of work your ancestors were forced to do when they were enslaved (like Cook or Baker). One way or another, we can literally refer to most of our last names as “slave names”.
When people argue that we need to get over slavery… that it didn’t happen to us or anyone that we know… few consider the impact it still has on us today. That among the many ways we still carry the burden of our ancestors, the most obvious is what we call ourselves.
Back in Africa, was our last name Jackson, Johnson, Smith, Hamilton or Jones? Were we the Nelsons of Sierra Leone or the Hendersons of Ghana? We may not have any idea what our names were before our elders were crammed into slave ships, but we can say with 100% certainty that the names we bear today weren’t the true names of our ancestors pre-slavery.
What’s In a Name?
We debate the word nigga or nigger night and day. Some believe it’s offensive, others that it’s a term of endearment. But what’s more offensive than calling someone by the name of the person who raped their mother and beat their father? The person who held their entire family in bondage and sold them to the highest bidder like cattle?
I’m told that my last name came about as the result of one of my great-great-relatives taking the surname of a man who provided friendly assistance during the war. This was after slavery had ended and we don’t know whether this person was white or black or other. Still, it’s problematic because it’s not our family name and whether the original person was white or black, the name, itself, traces back to Europe and is definitely not African. Whether it originated with a so-called slave master or not, it found its way to this country attached to a white man who upheld the system of white supremacy that made slavery possible. (NOTE: With the exception of white abolitionists who were among a tiny minority, all white people supported the institution of slavery either through ownership, catching runaway black people for reward profits or by simply keeping silent and accepting its existence.)
Changing Names
When most women get married, they change their last names to that of their husband. Some may hyphenate their last names, but they still go through the process of legally changing their surnames. Of those who don’t fill out actual paperwork for a legal name change, their husband’s last name soon becomes associated with them just by common everyday usage. I’ve also seen debates over husbands taking a wife’s last name, which some do.
I point all of this out to say that changing our last name isn’t difficult to do. Whether legally or by association, people literally do it every day.
So, why haven’t we shed our “slave names”?
The First Step Black to Africa
This Black to Africa movement of ours begins with a change in mindset. One that deliberately calls for us to abandon our former ways of thinking about Africa and of thinking about ourselves in relation to the continent. We may not know where we need to go “back” to any more than we know our ancestral names, but we know the vicinity. We know that neither America nor Europe are our motherland. Just as we’ve encouraged you to investigate and choose a country in Africa to explore for future settlement, it would behoove all of us to do the same thing with our last names.
Some of you have already had your DNA tested and know where your ancestors came from. But even if you haven’t gotten that far yet, we all know that West Africa is the most probable vicinity. So, why not Google several W. African surnames and pick the one that resonates with you the most?
I happen to know that, through my paternal lineage, I share DNA with the Krobo, Akan and Ewe tribes in West Africa. With this knowledge, I moseyed on over to Africa-Facts.org to check out some names on their list of 150 Common African Last Names. Didn’t quite find what I was looking for there (but I learned a thing or two about African names), so I headed to Wikipedia to check out some Akan names. There, I assembled a name that resonates with me and one I’m thinking about changing to soon: Amma Ntonni Quainoo
Amma, because I was born on a Saturday and many Africans choose names based on the day a child was born. It can also be shortened to Ami, which I also like.
Ntonni, mainly because I like the sound and spelling. It also means advocate and hero.
Quainoo, because my VERY dearly departed aunt’s name was Quaintance, so Quainoo was close enough and unique enough to capture my attention.
I’m weighing the possibility of changing my entire name, but in the end I may end up changing only my last name.
National Name Change Month
One of the first orders of business for this Black to Africa movement should be to establish a National Name Change month. Giving ourselves ample time to select one, fill out the necessary paperwork for changing the name on our birth certificates, drivers licenses, social security cards, etc. November should be good, right? Of course, your name can be changed sooner than that, but November would be a sort of deadline each year just to motivate folk to get it done.
Visit your state’s website for information about the process of changing your last name. And let’s make doing so a priority, shall we? The clock is ticking, so mark your calendars for November 30th and let’s get it done before then!
Random Thoughts
Wouldn’t it be dope if black couples, instead of fussing about whether a woman is going to take a man’s name or if she’s going to hyphenate hers with his, decided to BOTH change their names to a West African one, instead? This can happen if we encourage our friends and family members to do just that.
I’m also thinking back now to the 2008 election and how some were extremely pissed about having a president with an African last name. Yes, his middle name, Hussein, drove them nuts, but I also heard MANY protest his very African last name, too. To be clear, we’re not changing our last names just to piss racist white folk off… that’s just a natural bonus!
What Do You Think?
Do you know where your last name comes from? Does it represent who you are as an African or does it pay homage to the Americans who oppressed your ancestors? Are you ready to give those people their name back and establish a new legacy that will free your future descendants from the labels our forefathers were branded with?
Share your thoughts about changing your name and about establishing a National Name Change Month in November in the comments below.
If I had a slave name or any other name that did not to a greater degree represent my family and ancestors with honor; I would gladly change my identifying naming convention to something that did honor me, my family, my progeny.
I live in Los Angeles and recently changed my name on 10-11-19. This process cost approximately $500. I am thinking that in total it will cost another $400 for passport, drivers license, postage to send certified copies (these cost $25 each and are required by many companies such as banks/lenders, credit cards, etc). After I sort the official IDs, I’ll move onto utilities, Netflix and other less important services. It’s a simple process that took me only a few hours and only 10 minutes in court to make it official.
This was so important to me that I have no accurate words to express how happy I am that I did it. Your name is an energetic frequency that is aimed at you daily. It was no longer an option to absorb any of my names so I changed all three, the last being most important for reasons stated in this wonderful article. I feel reborn and free. I have a new sense of calm. My heart is full because this step is just one of many that is moving me deeper into my authenticity.
Lastly, I used AfricanAncestry.com for my DNA testing. They are black owned and offer specials around the holidays. I love them because they trace not only the country and/or ethnicity but also your tribe. I am Balanta.
Wow so it’s cheaper to order the kit on holidays I’m so anxious to order it I know I’m something I’m mixed for sure I just wanna know where did my bloodline orginated from on my father and mother side
The mental barriers in life imposed on the Americans Black people are the worst the world has ever seen. They have been demonized and abused for decades. It will truly take an act of God to Free their minds. No one could blame them for distrustfulness.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VBryieHyFeI
African Centered Reality Mindset
I have often wondered why Shelia Jackson
Lee would not want to change her name.
Especially in today’s times when monuments of Jackson and Lee are being torn down.
We have little one the way I want to change my name…l refuse to die with slave name
Haven’t done DNA tests …but we a meaning full surname for US.
Hello I’m African from Ghana, in Ghana the day you were born Tells you the real name. We have this thing call “wo kra da” which means “your soul day” that’s the name we value much cuz most of we Africans in Africa also have slaves name like ERIC KWESI MENSAH HILSON, KWESI MEANS SUNDAY MALE BORN, MENSAH MEANS 3rd male born, ERIC we call it “Christian Name” , but Hilson is slave name & mostly people who live near the cost use the slave masters name If you want to know your name from the day you were born hit me
Up. Shallaboy124@gmail.com
My name is Ronald. What would my slave name have been?
It’s about the last name, I think mother’s still had choice of first name.
What is my African slave name abd where can I find my true meaning of my name
What would be my African name
We should have ‘Naming Ceremonies’ that rival wedding, funeral occasions. To generationally pass on and honor this brutal rapist, in front of world, is shameful, embarrassing and a disgrace! To proudly force this legacy upon our children and grandchildren is pure insanity!
With the whole world pushing this back to Africa thing, which began in the racist 18 century, in which our people couldn’t read our write (major majority) how can you be so sure that ALL black people are from Africa, when the Americas are the oldest land mass, with the oldest bones found and the highest mountain ranges (Andes – Ecuador)? With so called black people (actually shades of brown) being all over the world, why aren’t we telling so called white people to go back home? At least they know where they’re from and are so proud to be from there. So return! Please my Negro family, tell me what nation in Africa are we from? And has been asking/fighting for our return. And will sue the nation’s around the world for what happened to our ancestors. …. I’ll join that campaign.
Your point I agree
Can I be helped in getting a slave name.
Greetings! I have been thinking about changing my name, And I have purchased The African Book of names to help as well. All of this had come about as I’m tracing my roots! Finding out My ancestry DNA 81% being of African Rooted with the majority, 44% Nigeria, 21% Ivory Coast/Ghana and 11% Senegal. Researching now the process of changing my name
Hello, which DNA kit did you use?
We have little one the way I want to change my name…l refuse to die with slave name
Haven’t done DNA tests …but aant a meaning full surname for US.
I think its about time I support the movement and cause I’m a firm believer on not having a slave name what’s so ever I only identify with Kings not slavery!
Hello I’m very interested in changing my last name for the last five years now I live here in California and its to expensive to change my name the much I can afford is maybe 100$ so is it a way I can change my name with in my price range cuz here in los Angeles California the going rate is near 500$ please email me back at decevio@hotmail.com thank u
Hi Decevio! I know you asked that your reply be emailed, but I’m going to post it here as I’m sure you’re not the only one struggling to pay for a name change.
In California, you have the right to change your name by “usage”. It will be necessary to eventually get a decree from the courts in order to change it on your drivers license, social security card and other official documents, but there’s no reason to wait until you can afford all of that. My philosophy is to start where you can and since you CAN use another name in California, start there until you can afford an official change. Then maybe set aside a few dollars a month each month until you can afford to pay for the whole thing.
The state government’s website states that: “In California, you have the common law right to change your name by the “usage method.” This means that you simply pick a new name and start using it consistently in all parts of your life. There are exceptions to changing your name by the “usage method” — it cannot be used by people who are in state prison, on probation, on parole, or been a convicted sex offender. And it cannot be used to change a minor’s name.
BUT, government regulations created to fight against identity theft, fraud and terrorism are making it almost impossible to have a new name without official documentation. So, practically speaking, government agencies like the DMV or Social Security Administration and most institutions (like banks) require a court order to change your name. And you will also need a court order to get a new birth certificate or a passport in your new name.
For this reason, it is much more common to file for a court order changing your name. With that court order, called a Decree, you will be able to change your government-issued identifications and prove to any institution that your new name is your legal name.”
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Hope this information helps and here’s a link to the site if you’d like more information on changing your name in California: http://www.courts.ca.gov/1054.htm