The 2010 U.S. Census recorded 34,427 black Americans with Frazier as their last name. That represented 37% of the total of 92,152 entries.
This article tracks their numbers in the census since the Civil War. We also look at historic African American people named Frazier.
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.
2,499 people named Frazier were recorded in the 1870 census as black and 326 as mixed.
There was a total of 11,713 people with the name.
Frazier 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 6,393 people with the last name Frazier as black within a total of 22,430 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 12,208 people named Frazier as black within a total of 43,478.
Historic Black Figures With The Frazier Surname
Here are some notable African Americans in history with Frazier as their last name.
Edward Franklin Frazier
- Born: 1894
- From: Baltimore, Maryland
- Died: 1962
E. Franklin Frazier excelled at the Frederick Douglass High School in Baltimore won a scholarship to Howard University. After graduating in 1916, he gained a Masters in sociology at Clark University. He taught sociology at Morehouse College where he published a paper on white prejudice that was criticized in an Atlanta newspaper.
The subsequent threats made Frazier move with his family to Chicago where he complied a PhD at the University of Chicago in 1931. Having taught at Fisk University, he joined the faculty at Howard as the Head of the Sociology Department. He also taught at many other universities in his distinguished career.
Frazier’s seminal work was “The Negro Family in the United States”, which he published in 1939. It was a study of the historical, social, and economic forces on black family life. This was a major influence on African American sociological studies.
It’s received some negative criticism in modern times. If you’re looking for a nuanced view, this article is a balanced review.
Other Notable African American Sociologists
Here are some other sociologists that produced important work in the field of sociology:
Marjorie Amos Frazier
- Born: 1926
- From: South Carolina
- Died: 2010
Marjorie Amos grew up in Manning, South Carolina, and moved to Charleston where she married and raised a family. She was an active civil rights campaigner and became financial secretary of the NAACP.
Marjorie Amos-Frazier was elected to the Charleston County Council in 1974, the first woman to do so. She focused on healthcare services for the poor and homeless and established a senior citizens center.
Marjorie then joined the South Carolina Public Service Commission and became chairperson in 1990.
Frazier In Black Military Records
Military records are a rich resource of information for family history research. Here are examples of the Frazier 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 Frazier was in January 1876. Clarence F. Frazier was a Private in the U.S. Ninth Cavalary. He was stationed in January 1876 at Fort Union, New Mexico.
One of the later entries was in March 1907. Petrum R. Frazier was a Cook in the U.S. Ninth Cavalary.
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.
William Frazier
One of the earliest entries for Frazier was for William Frazier from Brooklyn, New York. He enlisted in August 8 1861 at New York when he was aged 18.
The record shows that William was assigned on January 1 1900 to the ship .
His occupation before enlisting was as a Barber. His naval rank was Landsman.
“Landsman” was the lowest rank at the time and was given to recruits with little sea experience.
Henry Frazier
One of the later entries was for a sailor who enlisted at St. Clair/Clarksville in May 27 1863. Henry was aged 25 and was from Clarksville, Tennessee.
He was assigned to the ship St. Clair on March 31 1864.
His occupation before enlisting was as a Laborer/Tobacconist. His naval rank was 1st Class Boy.
“1st Class Boy” was the rank given to young men who enlisted when they were under eighteen.