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Archiver > MDSTMARY > 2005-09 > 1126360420


From: "David Roberts" <>
Subject: Jordan/Jourdan and Somerville
Date: Sat, 10 Sep 2005 09:53:40 -0400
References: <MB093OJXsNQptgFrYIL0000157d@MB09.myfamilysouth.com>


As blacks left slavery they sometimes took the names of their former owners
or other white people.
Today there are many, many African Americans in St. Mary's County with
either the Jordan or the Somerville surname.
Very few [if any] white Somervilles are present today in St. Mary's County;
the African Americans named Somerville are quite numerous. The first black
Sheriff in St. Mary's County history [and I think possibly anywhere in
Maryland] was Joe Lee Somerville, back in the early 80s.
"Mulberry Fields" a huge plantation in the Valley Lee area was once owned by
a white Somerville family. Good bet that is part of the reason for the name
among local African Americans.
The best example of this is Barnes. The white Barnes who owned Tudor Hall in
Leonardtown freed a couple of hundred slaves in the 1790s if they took the
surname Barnes.
So ditto with Somerville, you'll find many, many African American people in
St. Mary's named Barnes.
Hope this helps.
David

David Roberts
Hollywood, MD

----- Original Message -----
From: <>
To: <>
Sent: Monday, September 05, 2005 7:07 PM
Subject: [MDSTMARY-L] surnames


> This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list.
>
> Surnames: JORDAN/JOURDAN
> Classification: Query
>
> Message Board URL:
>
> http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/oEB.2ACE/2624
>
> Message Board Post:
>
> I AM SEARCHING MY ANCESTORS.MY GREAT GREAT GRANDMOTHER WAS BORN IN
MARYLAND BETWEEN 1816 AND 1820. HER NAME WAS VIOLA JORDAN/JOURDAN.WHILE
SEARCHING THE 1860 CENSUS I NOTICED THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF BLACKS WITH
THE LAST NAME OF SOMMERVILLE.WAS THIS A COMMON NAME FOR THE BLACKS? DOES
ANYONE KNOW THE REASON FOR THIS?

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