Slaves Had A Name Project

WELCOME TO THE

RESEARCHING RECORDS TO FIND ANCESTORS LOST DUE TO SLAVERY

Researched

Finding ancestors is not an easy task. We’re making the task a little easier by taking the time to find the records needed to identify slave names based. By viewing the records of the purchase and sale of slaves then document these findings so that researchers can find their lost ancestors.

transcribed

Once this is done, we combine oral accounts, and our findings into our database and record the history of their lives being sold and gifted so that researchers can link them to their family members identified on the 1870 Census, and then through their DNA matches.

Just review

By searching for the last name of your ancestor or the slaveholder based on your research or the 1870 Census, you can view the reports we compile that will provide you the documentation you need to break through your DNA results and family lineage.

A county with no slaves

Following the official abolition of slavery in 1865, Bullock County, Alabama, was established from portions of Pike, Macon, Montgomery, and Barbour counties. For genealogical research prior to 1840, it is essential to expand the scope of research to include Henry, Monroe, and Covington counties as well. Failing to investigate these regions may present significant obstacles in tracing early ancestors, particularly those identified in the 1870 Census. Additionally, to locate your ancestors, it is critical to research not only the slaveholders in these adjacent counties but also those in the states from which they or their enslaved individuals may have originated.

COUNTIES TRANSCRIBED

In order for our researchers to find their ancestors who who were enslaved, we needed to research pre-slavery documents and this means our efforts needs to be expanded into researching slaveholders. Release of the transcribed data for these surnames will be made available based on the schedule outlined below.

Pike, Alabama

Find your ancestor on the 1870 census, note their ID and search for them in the corresponding records!

Barbour, Alabama

Portions of Barbour County also made up Bullock County so this county will be transcribed and made available in 2025.

Macon, Alabama

Macon County, Alabama will be transcribed in 2025

jefferson ga

jefferson, ga

Slave holders family members lived in many neighboring counties so “some” surnames have been transcribed.  

Montgomery, Alabama

Montgomery is a large county, but only the lower region became Bullock County so records will be available in 2025.

frederick icon

frederick, md

we are in the process of working with the Friends of the Catoctin Furnace Project to transcribe these records!

1750 +

Surames in the database

88 +

Records researched

4,453 +

Slave names discovered

1+

Counties Completed

Ready To Start finding lost ancestors?

Register to gain access to reports, maps, and information to help you with your research. Contact us if you’d like for us to add your surname to our reports early!

Scroll to Top