These names are simply the most common surnames encountered and may prove useful to those pursuing genealogical research." Melungeon and Melungeon-related surnames (North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky) Brass Ankles (South Carolina) Carmel Indians (Ohio) Cubans (North Carolina) Guineas (West Virginia Melungeon) Caldwell (36) 10. 6. These films have popularised Southern names all across the world. Garcia and Martinez represent the rapid growth of several Hispanic communities in the United States. At least according to Elizabeth Caldwell Hirschman, author of Melungeons: The Last Lost Tribe in America. The Most Common Surnames. The fields in the file are as follows: 'yr' - the year (e.g. More than 1,120 posts contain information relating to more than 720 surnames! Find. My own name was uncommon to the point of weirdness when I was growing up in the early 1960s, but not an Appalachian name that I know of. You'll also find some potential pop culture nods (could that be the "Bridgerton" influence to see Simon, Anthony, and . Alas, the last of the four states with Jones in its top three most common last names list. 46. My maternal grandmother and her twin sister were named Toka and Noka Scaggs. They will remind you of many amazing, famous, and historically significant women. Grave_Girl 6 yr. ago. We found 613,523 records for Appalachian last name. Kidadl has lots of great names articles to inspire you. We can totally identify with the folks in Appalachia from their language, foodways, music, and traditions. They are from the Upper South, the Shenandoah Valley. Im just not sure what. Holt: This Old English surname's meaning is "a small wood or grove". 31. For more naming inspiration, take a look at these Scottish last names and these Native American last names. Alabama Indiana Smith (no indication of a personal link to either state), nickname Aunt Pal, Mollissie Pearl Tabatha Lovelady. 74. Thanks for doing what you do. Not exactly common names for sure. 71. Cohle, played by Matthew McConaughey in the gritty drama True Detective. 1. 81. The history of your name Roughly 20 percent of South Korea's population (and 25 percent of North Korea) has this surname. 66. Thank you for all you do to preserve our Mountain/Appalachian heritage. 2. WCGS Blog. But the bureau also compiled lists of the fastest-growing surnames in the United States and these include Zhang, Li, Ali, Liu, and Khan - a testament to the wonderful diversity of our nation. Abernathy (Scottish origin) meaning mouth of the river Nethy. 93. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. 63. Urple, Hassie, Gains, Burley, and so on. Keep up the excellent work! I also have a Horacio Gates Lane ancestor, named for one of the less successful Revolutionary War generals. Doby (Scottish origin) meaning famous or renown or bright. To help you find the best Southern last name for your characters, here is a list of the 100 most popular surnames used in the South, along with their meanings and origins. Oh what a joy Rodgers (English origin) meaning the son of Roger. This file contains one record for each combination of 'year' and 'surname' for which that surname occurred at least ten times (in total) in the birth, marriage and death registers of that year. The boys, of course, were named for ancestors, but the girls names were WAY out there. It wasnt just family members that called them these names, but also community and church members. My mother was named after him. Baskin (Scottish origin) meaning someone who is a descendant of little Bass. Hall, the powerful and iconic female character from 'Reba', played by Reba McEntire. of Cornelia and Immanuel Barnes, but it was so weathered that you could only decipher the abbreviation for daughter if you knew what it should say. It was my privilege to thank some of them in person and through notes to the county genealogical societies of the four Kentucky counties where the earthly remains of so many of my ancestors now rest. But, my great aunts were Winkle and Sap. It is a patronymic from the Spanish personal name Gonzalo, which originally comes from . From lino cutting to surfing to childrens mental health, their hobbies and interests range far and wide. 62. JoAnns grandparents name was Saylor and Ollie Caldwell. So Iva would become Iver, Cora would be Corie, etc. My Other Blogs: Rose Hill Cemetery; Macon, Georgia. My sister is named PEARL after Granny Pearl (and some late 60s song about a girl called Pearl) Id not trade our hillbilly lives and all the stories for a million dollars and half the land!!!! The rolling hills and diverse flora offer endless opportunities for inspiration when choosing an Appalachian baby name. Cook (Old English origin) meaning one who cooks. Surnames generally fall into 1 of 5 categories: toponymic (location-based), occupational . 36. The name Appalachia comes from the Appalachee tribe of Northern Florida. Dillard (English origin) meaning someone who is the descendant of little Dill. I think k growing up a lot of people had nicknames that were used more than the real ones. My Daddy is from Canton, NC and my Great Grandmothers name was Julia, but she was affectionately known as Liley Mama. Looking Glass/Getty Images. Now how do you even come close to getting to be a Polly if you were christened Mary? They called her Wats for short. But what about the most distinctive last names in the state? She went by Karen. There are many theories about the Melungeon heritage including that they are most likely tri-racial with possibly European, Native American and African ancestry. We are the third generation of senior members. Less common an er was added, as my Aunt Edna may have been referred to as Edner. 37. Brooksie. You say to-mA-to but I say to-ma-to. Keep up the good work, Tipper. Her mother was a full blooded Cherokee Indian. Twins, DRUCILLA & BARZILLA (the only set of twins in the family), LUZANNA, DELANEY, RUDAH, MARZILLA, just to name a few. 80. } My own name is Patsy (not Patricia), and the few others that I have met with that name have been from the South! Well send you tons of inspiration to help you find a hidden gem in your local area or plan a big day out. I imagine some of those Becks were descended from my ancestors who ended up in the Oconee, Stamp Creek, Keowee area of the Nantahalla Forest, Jeffrey Beck, Sr and Mary Ann McDaniel Beck. Food; Home; Garden; Travel; Her name was always pronounced as LOU I ZY. Belle (Old English origin) meaning beauty. One lady that lived near us was Tinnie. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents. The last letters are dropped and replaced by y. These cool last names range from unique and pretty to cute and fancy. On my Fathers side he had an Aunt Swepter who was the oldest child of his Grandfather and I had never heard that name before. One of my great grandmothers was named Sophronia. These ladies risked copperheads and rattlers, chiggers, mosquito bites, bulls and poison ivy to painstakingly record every known grave in the county. You say po-tA-to but I say po-ta-to. Rodriguez (Spanish origin) meaning the son of Rodrigo. Most Common Last Names In Tennessee. Hello! Show all surnames (sorted alphabetically) Top 50 surnames (total individuals): 1. Some of these cemeteries hadnt been used or maintained for sixty years and could no longer be accessed by even a dirt road. The two ladies who climbed a steep bluff to record Homers grave assumed it was the grave of a man. After all, using last names as first names is a trend that isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong. Pruitt, played by Sandra Bullocks in the movie 'Hope Floats' that was set in the small town of Smallville in Texas. Both my husband and I have a love for those mountains and go there whenever we can. At least some of those kinds of changes are knowingly adopted in families. The Bell Witch. About Author Research Credentials Reviews Genealogy Book A Walk In Life And War Highlights Geographical Areas Soldier Bio Excerpts . One I have yet to figure out how it came about or even why. Dawson (English origin) meaning the son of David. Subscribe for virtual tools, STEM-inspired play, creative tips and more. One of the most unusual names I heard, growing up in the Ozarks, was Antharet. My papaw had used some of his meager coal stripping money to buy his first wife a real marker and I saw her name there..LOUISA, Verner for Verna.Murry for Mary.my Gndma Mauneys name was Theodocia and was known as Doesh.my Grt-gndpa Cebrum Byers was known as Cebe..Roe for Monroe. In the next few posts you'll be hearing about my family ancestors specifically. My mother was from the South, but my father was an Ashkenazi Jew. My grandfather (born around 1894) was from the mountains of western North Carolina; his name was Tivit. Alcaraz means 'the cherry' in Arabic, but it refers to the name of a place in Spain. I thought everybody knew what count meant like he is no count. Umbra (Latin origin) meaning shadow. I can think of Appalachian examples but those examples are not people names. Later they butchered a calf annually after we got a freezer. 10. window.mc4wp.listeners.push( Holt (German origin) meaning forested upland. My name is Yecedrah. I didnt make the connection that Mamaw was otherwise a common name for grandmothers. Whenever Grandpa introduced his wife to someone, he said, Meet the missus.. most common view in American dialect studies is that features distinc-tive to one British dialect or another were probably brought to the. Well, then it is likely you are named after a religious figure or god. My paternal grandmother was named Anna Mae and my paternal grandmother was named Essie. Heres one for someone to answer. This is a great post. Please note: prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published. Sarah became Sally and Margaret became Peggy. I realize that both cultures have a rich language and cultural heritage, even though they are a bit at odds with each other sometimes. 18. on Appalachian grammar turns out to be detectable), and to compare the . Don't have an Account? 55. Good morning. While there are plenty of lesser known last names, this map created by online lending firm NetCredit reveals the most common surnames around the world, according to each country.. Nicknames and variations of names were commonplace on both sides of my family. Aunts, Uncles, cousins, in-laws and probably some outlaws have met every year up until the pandemic stepped in and made us cancel this last couple of Easter week-ends. Ruth (Old English origin) meaning friend. Walker, Sergeant Cordell in Walker, Texas Ranger played by Chuck Norris, was brave, courageous, and powerful. There are surnames associated with the Melungons. As an Amazon Associate, Kidadl earns from qualifying purchases. Mildred (Old English origin) meaning gentle strength. Choosing a Southern last name from the Deep South is a great way to give yourself or a character a truly Southern feel. The three most common surnames in Alabama, at least according to Ancestry.com, are Smith, Williams and Johnson. Some of my grandmothers and great grandmothers (who we called Granny or Mamaw) were Ollie Mae, Leona, Rosella, Gloria, Audrey, and Elsie. It will be interesting to learn some unusual family names others have and hopefully the stories behind them. My family hails as far back as I can trace it so far to North Carolina. Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising. I was so happy to see your post today! My grandmother was Virginia (Ginny) her sisters, Maine (Mainey) Nebraska (Braskey), Kansas (Kanny). My fathers mother didnt want to be called mamaw, or granny but grandmother. 68. A Brief Appalachian History. 1. Papaws brother had a daughter named Lutecia and my Pawpa named his daughter AniJuan!! Arch Goins and family, Melungeons from Graysville, TN, 1920s. British surnames such as Williams, Jackson, Robinson, Harris, Davis, Brown and Jones are also common among people of non-British descent, such as African Americans due to slavery. 2. Tim, your grandfather was born the year my father was born. . Annas, Farbus, Buster Nile (real name of my daddy) Gilley, Winnie, Tatum, Pert, my Aunt Emma was called Emmer, Blanco, America and they called her Merkee, Delma and they called her Delmie, Elijah called Lijethe list goes on and on! I sometimes wonder if they were names from diaspora communities, and as people began to speak English with their original accents, and as that developed into the various Appalachian accents, we ended up with weird names. Pierce, the young and incredibly interesting character played by Winona Ryder in 'Reality Bites' is another popular Texan surname. The names on this list, some popular and some unique last names, are reminiscent of the Southern cultures and traditions that many of us hold so dear. The origins and ethnicity of the Melungeons are a point of debate; however there are multiple documents and cultural similarities that can be used to determine . Huber is common in southern Bavaria and is, with the exception of Munich, the most frequent name in that area. Most Common Last Names In West Virginia. I had and uncle named HARDEN. Any information you provide to us via this website may be placed by us on servers located in countries outside the EU if you do not agree to such placement, do not provide the information. 82. I know many Dremas, and think it is a pretty name. Hello Tipper, When I was a young girl we would visit relatives on Sundays in Northeast Ga. We made the rounds between two great Aunts on my fathers side of the family. Changing an A ending sound in a name to ER was very common in my family. Im not sure this fits but had an uncle named Emerson we called Sam. But I digress. Redd (Old English origin) meaning red or read. 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