The 2010 U.S. Census recorded 28,099 black Americans with Ferguson as their last name. That represented 19% of the total of 146,426 entries.
This article tracks their numbers in the census since the Civil War. We also look at historic African American people named Ferguson.
We end with a review of early records of black military service in the United States.
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.
1,808 people named Ferguson were recorded in the 1870 census as black and 309 as mixed.
There was a total of 16,687 people with the name.
Ferguson 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 4,259 people with the last name Ferguson as black within a total of 36,446 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 7,714 people named Ferguson as black within a total of 72,730.
Historic Black Figures With The Ferguson Surname
Here is a notable African American in history with Ferguson as their last name.
Vernice Ferguson
- Born: 1928
- From: Fayetteville, North Carolina
- Died: 2012
Vernice Ferguson was the daughter of a minister and a teacher in Baltimore. She studied nursing in New York and spent many years as a practicing nurse before going into administration and management.
She was appointed Chief Nursing Officer of the Department of Veterans Affairs, which had a massive nursing department of over sixty thousand at the time.
She received many honors including being designated as a Living Legend by the American Academy of Nursing.
Ferguson In Black Military Records
Military records are a rich resource of information for family history research. Here are examples of the Ferguson 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 Ferguson was in December 1895. Edward W. Ferguson was a Private in the U.S. Tenth Cavalry. He was stationed in December 1895 at Fort Keogh.
Another entry was in September 1907. Arthur C. Ferguson was a Private in the U.S. Tenth 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.
Daniel Ferguson
One of the earliest entries for Ferguson was for Daniel Ferguson from Flatlands, New York. He enlisted in December 1862 at New Bedford when he was aged 26.
The record shows that Daniel was assigned on September 1865 to the ship Minnesota.
His occupation before enlisting was as a Cook/Steward. His naval rank was Landsman.
“Landsman” was the lowest rank at the time and was given to recruits with little sea experience.
Charles H. Ferguson
One of the later entries was for a sailor who enlisted at Philadephia in September 1862. Charles H. was aged 25 and was from Dover, Delaware.
He was assigned to the ship Wyandark on July 1865.
His occupation before enlisting was as a Waiter/Farmer. His naval rank was Landsman.
“Landsman” was the lowest rank at the time and was given to recruits with little sea experience.