Why do many African Americans have Irish surnames?

[Sikeliot]

Eddie Murphy, Shaquille O'Neal, Tracy McGrady etc.

I have known many African Americans also with surnames like McDowell, Collins, Kelly, etc.

Why? I didn't know there would be Irish ancestry or any Irish Americans owning slaves.

[Seth MacFarlane]

Eddie Murphy, Shaquille O'Neal, Tracy McGrady etc.

I have known many African Americans also with surnames like McDowell, Collins, Kelly, etc.

Why? I didn't know there would be Irish ancestry or any Irish Americans owning slaves.

I've also thought of this also , the only explanation I could come up with is that some English slaveowners have some paternal irish ancestry from mixing back in the British isles.

[Anima Libera]

Following their release from slavery, they adopted European surnames.

And some had interbred with white folk.

[Sikeliot]

I've also thought of this also , the only explanation I could come up with is that some English slaveowners have some paternal irish ancestry from mixing back in the British isles.

I know some surnames are shared between Irish and Scottish people, but the examples above -- McGrady, Murphy, Kelly, etc. are just Irish. So Scots-Irish might not explain it.

[Seth MacFarlane]

Following their release from slavery, they adopted European surnames.

It's more likely the mixed nationality of their owners due to close proximity of their native land. You won't see African American with random Slavic surnames or romance names

[Anima Libera]

It's more likely the mixed nationality of their owners due to close proximity of their native land. You won't see African American with random Slavic surnames or romance names

Yes but they adopted white surnames common in america. that's what I was meaning. like anglo germanic names

[Siberyak]

Almost all the people who owned slaves in the south were british isles descended. That shouldn't be a hard one to figure out...

[Linebacker]

In many white families post slavery,black people were adopted.Kind of like the maids/cooks and butlers in British families at the time.They lived in the family's house and they carried the family's name.

There's your answer.

[Cody Gearhart]

Also a reason why african americans can grow facial hair Lol. Just sayin. but yes a lot of them interbred with white folk.

[pincopallino]

because the Irish owned slaves. Actually many AA carry Welsh surnames too like Williams, Jones etc