Jeff Clinton has built an index of family names that appear on old Barbados maps from 1657 (Ligon) through to 1847 (Schomburgk) – quite an undertaking!
Jim Webster
Jeff Clinton’s work indexing family names and plantation names on old Barbados maps started with a cruise trip to Barbados and a map on display at Sunbury Plantation that highlighted his family name: Clinton, that piqued his curiosity.
Jeff has made his index of Barbados family names available for genealogical researchers and family historians. This resource allows you to bypass the tedious task of searching historic maps individually. By pinpointing exactly which maps feature specific surnames, you can quickly trace ancestors and identify neighbouring families for vital context. It is an invaluable asset for anyone exploring Barbadian lineage across different eras.
The family names index can be used in conjunction with the The Printed Maps of Barbados 1500s – 1980s.
Below is the list of the maps and census data where family names have been painstakingly catalogued and indexed. Clicking on the map / census name will take you to the original source:
Index of Barbados family names
Generally the existence of the family name on the map will tell that they or structures were there at that time when the map was created.
Maps can be reworkings of earlier maps with updates applied and the implications of this should be considered in terms of inaccuracies.
The table below contains 14,538 rows of data! Please be patient while the table loads… its having to do a lot of processing to build the display results – even thought the processing is being done server-side!
Given the number of rows of data we have chosen to display 10 rows at a time, so the data can be viewed on devices ranging from phones to tablets to laptops. We have included an option for you to increase or decrease the number of entries displayed in the table. We suggest you DO NOT click on show ALL as the page will become unresponsive.
You can scroll for given family names. Or you can use the Last Name filter as a family name search box. Or you can add the Last name you are looking for to the Search box.
You can also filter the table by Parish and Source (Map_UID).
When using the filters remember to clear the filters between searches.
A link has also been provided to allow you to download the raw data in Excel format.
Please note:
This index of family names from historic Barbados maps, spanning the Ligon map (1657) to the Schomburgk map (1847), is provided “as is”.
The information included in this index has been transcribed from historical maps and documents that are over 150 years old. While every reasonable effort has been made to ensure accuracy, the data may contain transcription errors, historical inaccuracies, omissions, or other imperfections in the original sources.
The author, Jeff Clinton, makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, regarding the completeness, reliability, or accuracy of the information contained in this index, and accepts no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions.
Users are solely responsible for any use of, or reliance upon, the information provided.
Some short-hand notes: For the 1827 map Jeff used the “Title” column as the new reference for plantation names. He did not want to lose that cross reference so he recorded it in an unused column so as not to lose that link of ownership. In some of the first maps Jeff indexed, he added notes in the the un-used Middle name column or First name column. We have opted not to change the original data and have left it “as is”.
Index of family names taken from old Barbados maps
Jeff Clinton’s Index of family names taken from old Barbados maps 1657 (Ligon) through to 1847 (Schomburgk). It also includes family names listed in the 1679 Barbados Census.
Click here to download in Excel format Jeff Clinton’s Index of Barbados Family Names.
BajanThings is very grateful for the work that Jeff Clinton has shared here indexing family names on old Barbados maps.
His work indexing Barbados family names started while researching his family tree and the trail came to a dead-end with the War of 1812 with Joseph Clinton. This was a conflict between the United States and Great Britain (fought primarily in North America and at sea) that lasted from 1812 to 1815.
Jeff is still searching for his Clinton ancestors. His current search is concentrated in the Philadelphia / Barbados area and the Barbados Quaker link. His current searching is concentrated on searching shipping details listing inbound and outbound ships in Ben Franklin’s Pennsylvania Gazette. The Gazette editions begin in the year 1728 on newspapers.com. Barbados is listed there with ship master names.
This post was put together by Peter Burton with help from Jim Webster and has been assigned to Jeff Clinton as Author of the index.
