The 2010 U.S. Census recorded 23,744 black Americans with George as their last name. That represented 18% of the total of 128,625 entries.
This article tracks their numbers in the census since the Civil War. We also look at historic African American people named George.
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.
2,714 people named George were recorded in the 1870 census as black and 428 as mixed.
There was a total of 19,782 people with the name.
George 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 4,687 people with the last name George as black within a total of 35,936 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 7,078 people named George as black within a total of 67,634.
Historic Black Figures With The George Surname
Here is a notable African American in history with George as their last name.
Albert George
- Born: 1873
- From: Washington D.C.
- Died: 1940
Albert George earned a law degree from Northwestern University in Chicago in 1897. He practiced law for nearly forty years before he won election as a Municipal Court judge.
Judge George was the first African American to be elected as a judge in Illinois.
George In Black Military Records
Military records are a rich resource of information for family history research. Here are examples of the George 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 George was in February 1884. Lorenzo George was a Private in the United States Tenth Cavalry. He was stationed in February 1884 at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri.
Another entry was in February 1912. Gentry George was a Private in the United States 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.
Abraham George
One of the earliest entries for George was for Abraham George from Salem, New Jersey. He enlisted in January 1863 at Philadelphia when he was aged 31.
The record shows that Abraham was assigned on April 1865 to the ship Philadelphia.
His occupation before enlisting was as a Steward/Mariner. His naval rank was Landsman.
“Landsman” was the lowest rank at the time and was given to recruits with little sea experience.
William K. George
One of the later entries was for a sailor who enlisted at Boston in March 1865. William K. was aged 19 and was from Milford, New Hampshire.
He was assigned to the ship Guard on May 1865.
His occupation before enlisting was as a Blacksmith. 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.