BLACK-L Archives

From: "Roberta Black" <>
Subject: Re: [BLACK-L] Changing Surname to "BLACK"
Date: Sun, 27 Jun 2004 21:25:26 -0500
References: <d6.dfe1a19.2e103ad4@aol.com>

There are three origins for the surname Black

From the English - Black - someone with black hair or complexion

From the Gallic (Irish, Scottish or Wales) - Blache - someone of blonde or
fair complexion

From the Yiddish Schwartz - Germanized into Swartz - meaning black or
someone of dark hair or complexion.

It was very common, post revolutionary war, for people with the last name of
Schwartz or Swartz to change their name to Black. Sounds more "American."
My ancestor used Swartz in his legal documents but for tax list and census
he went by Black. His children were baptized as Black and his wife was
buried as Eve Black.

Hope this helps.

Hugh Black
----- Original Message -----
From: <>
To: <>
Sent: Sunday, June 27, 2004 9:59 AM
Subject: [BLACK-L] Changing Surname to "BLACK"


> Has anyone else come across their original surname being changed to
"BLACK"?
> If so, does anyone know the reason for doing this?
>
> My great great grandmother Elizabeth Strohmeyer Gerandino/Gandine changed
our
> family surname to "BLACK". Probably around the time of the death of my
great
> great grandfather Joseph Gerandino/Gandine about 1880. My great
grandfather,
> Joseph, also took the name as "BLACK" and it became my paternal
> grandmother's, Nettie Elizabeth, surname. My family is from San Antonio,
Bexar County,
> Texas. My great great grandparents were originally from Alsace and
Switzerland.
>
> I was wondering if anyone else has discovered such name changes in their
> family surnames. Name changes make it very difficult for researching.
It's hard
> enough researching Germanic-type names.
>
> Thank you,
> Ron Hesdorff
>
> San Antonio, TX
>

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