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Archiver > CARIBBEAN > 2003-03 > 1047869476


From: (Richard Bond)
Subject: Re: Slave naming in Barbados
Date: Sun, 16 Mar 2003 21:51:16 -0500 (EST)
References: <3e751a44.21698845@news.cis.dfn.de>


This seems to confirm what my father said regarding the relative
rarity of Caribbean slaves taking their owners names like in the United
States. Instead there is a higher number of first names which become
family names. The first names given were Standard English, Classical,
African, Trade and Nick names. There were also white fathers who
allowed known offspring to use theirs or single mothers using their
surname for children. My father who taught a course in Caribbean History
at U of V.I. was speaking anecdotally regarding the greater likelyhood
of black neighbors with historic European names being among the
illegetimate descendants ofuropeans vs mere property.

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