Slave names

[Baker, John]

        Westlaw cases do show a number of references to slaves named
Pompey or Caesar - more, in fact, than to slaves named Sambo or Cuffey
(though I suspect that the spelling was not standardized for "Cuffey,"
making direct comparisons difficult).  I can only speculate that
classically trained slave owners liked to show off their knowledge.


John Baker


-----Original Message-----
From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf
Of Jonathan Lighter
Sent: Monday, December 10, 2007 5:19 PM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: Re: Slave names

I wonder about the source of our stereotype that slaves were so
stereotypically named "Caesar" and "Pompey."  Surely it comes from
fiction?

  There's a minstrel song involving "Pompey Squash." Can't think of any
other "Pompeys." Haven't checked _Gone with the Wind_.

  JL

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