Ancestors from the Caribbean

Ethnicity

Most Caribbean people are descended from Africans who were enslaved and bought to work on the plantations between 1640 and 1807.

The British slave trade was abolished in 1807, but the enslaved peoples were not emancipated until 1834. Even then most were apprenticed for a further four years.

There are also a significant proportion of Caribbean people descended from British colonies in Asia, who were bought there as indentured labourers following abolition.

A number of people are of European descent, particularly British (some of whom were transported) and there are small numbers descended from indigenous Amerindians.

Surnames

The trail of surnames can be rather complicated for a number of reasons.

Many children were born outside wedlock and so baptised in their mother's name. 

Men and women may have had children with several different partners.

Children may have been baptised in their mother's name, then later adopted their father's name or that of another man whom their mother went on to marry.

Enslaved people did not have legal surnames until emancipation. Records show however, that some did use surnames prior to this event.

Upon emancipation, people either chose their own surname or were given a surname by a church or state official.

It is popularly believed that the surname of their most recent owner was taken. Although this did happen, research shows that this was not always the case.

People also took the surnames of their father, mother, a respected local person or friend, even a famous person.

Some slaves had multiple forenames in order to differentiate people of the same name, so often one of these was taken as their new surname.

You can contact other people carrying out names research via the Caribbean Surname Index (opens new window).