How can I find out about slave surnames, can any one help?

Question:

How can I find out about slave surnames, can any one help?

my son has a mult. clut. project to do, and we need to research the last names of Thomas, Sommerville and Avent. In helping him with his project I realize that I know nothing of my heritage. Being African American, I'm sure that the last name I carry was more than likely the last name of a slave owner who owned my ancestors. I feel so disconnected from my heritage, and from the people I come from. I went to some website, and got a "generic" overview of my last name, but it just doesn't "fit" my family, it's more an overview for my caucasion counterparts. Can anyone help? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Don't start researching the 'surname' per say, but start with yourself (and your son) and work your way back. The first step is to gather all you can from your older relatives you are still living - parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, etc. Try to get names, dates, and locations - although family stories and personal anecdotes are wonderful as well.

Once you can get back to someone living in 1930 (depending on your age, a grandparent, perhaps), you can hit the Census. The U.S. Census is taken every 10 years and is the best (although certainly not the most accurate) way to get an initial sketch of a family. On sites like ancestry.com, you can search all the Censuses by name (although don't assume the name is spelled right). You can then trace back through 1920, 1920, 1900, 1880, and 1870 (1890 was destroyed), which should bring you back four-five generations.

1870 is likely to be the earliest you can get back to without in-depth research into slave records. Your surname very well could be the name of a former master, but not necc. - your particular ancestors could include freeman (there were many before 1865, even in the South), whites (be on the lookout for "mulatto" in the race column of the census), and Indians.

Good luck!