Native American Names

Source: The Reeves Report, Census of 1916, page 25: "The Indians in Mississippi have a peculiar system of naming, usually consisting of a reversal of the Christian and surnames. For instance, the eldest son of Jim Willis is apt to be known as Willis Jim. Again, when fancy strikes them, a son may be named in toto after some white man. Thus, the second son of John Anderson is liable to be called "Joe Welch"--not Jo Welch Anderson, but just plain Joe Welch. Where several generations have transpired it is almost impossible to determine whether a given Indian's name is Bill William or William Bill. You can take your choice, and either one would not be far wrong. Evan at that the member under discussion is apt to be a lineal descendant, through the paternal line of "Horace Greely." Native Americans had "Indian" names until the white folks made them take on a "Christian" name. In my opinion, this is the most difficult part about Native American genealogy research. You may know an ancestor's Indian name, but if you don't know their Christian name, your search stops there. The other is also true. If you only know their Christian name but not their Indian name, there again your search stops.