The 2010 U.S. Census recorded 20,582 black Americans with Daniel as their last name. That represented 26% of the total of 80,526 entries.
This article tracks their numbers in the census since the Civil War. We also look at historic African American people named Daniel. We end with a review of early records of black military service in the United States.
We have a separate article on the alternate black surname of Daniels.
After The Civil War
The 1870 census was the first survey after the Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation. In 1850 and 1860, only free African Americans were recorded in the census. The many enslaved were omitted.
From 1870 onward, all black Americans were included.
5,501 people named Daniel were recorded in the 1870 census as black and 610 as mixed.
There was a total of 16,067 people with the name.
Daniel In The 1900 And 1940 Census
The mixed category was dropped from the census in 1900, so we just need to look at the black numbers this time.
The 1900 census recorded 9,395 people with the last name Daniel as black within a total of 28,654 that year.
By the way, the mixed category returned in the 1910 and 1920 censuses. It was dropped again in 1930, but replaced with extra categories for colored and non-white in a way that seems confusing now.
This changed again in 1940 and we can simply focus on one black category.
The 1940 census recorded 12,339 people named Daniel as black within a total of 43,526.
Historic Black Figures With The Daniel Surname
Here is a notable African American in history with Daniel as their last name.
Wiley Daniel
- Born: 1946
- From: Louisville, Kentucky
- Died: 2019
Wiley Daniel studied law at Howard University and established a private practice in Detroit in the 1970s. He moved to Denver where he taught at the University of Colorado alongside practicing law.
President Clinton appointed Daniel to Colorado’s District Court in 1995. He was elevated to Chief Judge in 2008.
Daniel In Black Military Records
Military records are a rich resource of information for family history research. Here are examples of the Daniel surname from military service.
Buffalo Soldiers
Five regiments for black soldiers were formed during the Civil War. They were known as the Buffalo Soldiers.
Their records are part of the national archive of military monthly returns. The information includes the year and place of birth, where they enlisted, their occupation, and their height.
One of the earliest military entries for Daniel was in April 1867. Thomas Daniel was a Recruit in the U.S. Tenth Cavalry. He was stationed in April 1867 at Fort Gibson, Connecticut.
Another entry was in December 1914. Pentecoat Daniel was a Private in the U.S. Ninth Cavalry.
If you are researching military ancestors, there is a free index of these records on Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.
You have to create an account on either website, but you do not need to pay for the Buffalo Soldiers archive.
Black Civil War Sailors
The National Parks Service has a free archive of African American sailors during the Civil War.
The information includes their age, height, rank, occupation, and where and when they enlisted. It also includes every ship that they served on.
You can search the database on the National Parks website.
Isaac Daniel
One of the earliest entries for Daniel was for Isaac Daniel from Richmond, Virginia. He enlisted in January 1862 at Rappahannock River when he was aged 40.
The record shows that Isaac was assigned on March 1864 to the ship Mystic.
His occupation before enlisting was as a Farmer/Mariner. His naval rank was 1st Class Boy.
“1st Class Boy” was a rank generally given to seamen in training, who performed various manual tasks and duties aboard a ship under supervision. This could prepare them for promotion to the rank of ordinary seaman.
Thomas Daniel
One of the later entries was for a sailor who enlisted at Beaufort, North Carolina in April 1863. Thomas was aged 25 and was from Bladen County, North Carolina.
He was assigned to the ship William Badger on September 1863.
His occupation before enlisting was as a Plow Boy. His naval rank was 1st Class Boy.
“1st Class Boy” was a rank generally given to seamen in training, who performed various manual tasks and duties aboard a ship under supervision. This could prepare them for promotion to the rank of ordinary seaman.