Surname Changes

 As I continue to search on my mother’s side, her family surname has been spelled so many ways. Those spelling include: Langford, Langfurd, Lanford, Laukford, Landford, Lankferd, Sandford, Sankford, and Lankfard. There may have been others spellings.

Robert Louis Lankford (also known as Lewis Lankford) was my Great Grandpa. On his and Great Grandma Charlotta’s tombstone their surname was spelled LANKFARD.  When I came across their tombstone in the 1990’s, I thought that their surname was misspelled.

s I searched more on that Ashland Cemetery, I saw that there were others who with the LANKFARD spelling. My Grandparents Leo and Mary. Their tombstone was spelled LANKFARD. I can assume that that was the original name. Or that was a chosen surname that was taken after slavery.
Maybe the Lankford name may not have been the slave name. Story has it that the slave name might have been Morton. Great Grandpa Robert had a half sister, named Mamie Morton. 

Mamie was half black. She was said to have been the slave owner’s daughter. Robert and Mamie had the same mother. On Robert’s death record his parents were not known. Robert was born in KY.

I haven’t found any leads on Mamie Morton. Mamie could have married in KY where she  was living. Recently, I’ve come across someone searching the Morton who the Lankfords worked for…I thought that was nice.

It wasn’t until the 1910 that I came across Robert L. Lankford. In 1920 and 1920 his name was Robert Lankford. I wonder what happened. Was Robert going by his middle name at first? Or did he change his name?

It would be nice to have known more about my Great Grandpa Robert and his parents. I wonder if there were other siblings. I can only go back to Robert Louis LANKFORD. Perhaps that was the name that his choice.

So was his name spelled Robert Louis Lankford? Or Robert Lewis Lankfard? Either ways goes. As long as we know who was who or who’s who on the family tree that matter. 

While On The Journey,
Another Look At The Lankford Surname

The Mystery Continues:
Perhaps the family surname could have been another name. Each person with the LANKFORD surname spelled the family name the way that they choose. I noticed how the LANKFORD surname was spelled and signed through the World War I and II Draft Records, Marriage Licenses, Post Cards, Letters, City Directories, Census Records and Tombstones.

The above blog was a repost. I have an update:
I have come across other spellings. Lankgford, Longford,

In 2021 I had a breakthrough on Robert Louis Lankford’s family lineage. Robert was the son of Robert B. Lankford (1826 – 1863) and a lady by the name of Dora ? Lankford, a melungeon woman (1830 -1899). A researcher shared with me the link between Robert and his ancestor, Dora, who was Robert’s sister. I discovered an article stating that Robert was born in Washington County, Kentucky.

Robert Louis’ father was Robert B. Lankford who was white. The Lankford lineage surname can be traced back to the spelling of LONGFORD. There are many other varies of the LONGFORD lineage surname. Lanckford, my 11th Great Grandfather, then back to LONGFORD with my 15th Great Grandfather. to my 26th Great Grandfather Oliver DeLongford. to the my 28th Great Grandfather. The surname was changed.

I have been thinking about the Lankfard tombstone. It’s still a mystery. I wonder, Robert left Kentucky due to a family disagreement. He came to Missouri. I can trace him to an news article with the name Lewis Langford. Perhaps Robert didn’t want the Lankford spelling. Lankford was the enslaved surname. Or he didn’t want his family to find him.

The family did locate Robert. They keep in touch. Robert’s mother and some siblings were said to have lived in Missouri for a short time. I’m thankful for the discovery of family connections.

Perhaps LANKFARD was the freedom surname for the family.
There are relative who continue to spell their surnames LANKFORD and others with the LANKFARD.
I continue to honor both spellings.

Thanks for reading.
Surname Changes #52Ancestors ~ Week 41
God bless
S.A. Blakley

Week 41 ~ Generations Café via facebook

The theme for Week 41 is “Changes.” They say life is change. Think about the changes that your ancestors saw during their lifetime. (I think about my grandmother who went from using a horse and wagon to seeing Neil Armstrong step foot on the moon.)


Week 42 (Oct. 18-24): Sports
Week 43 (Oct. 25-31): Shock

In Remembrance: Bartlett Family Connections

 Jennie (BARTLETT) BLAKEY/  BLAKLEY

  Oct 4, 1946
In Memory of Paul BLAKLEY He passed. He was the son of John BLAKEY / BLAKLEY and Jennie (BARTLETT) BLAKLEY LYLE.

  Oct 7, 1989
 In Memory of   D. W. BLAKLEY Sr. He passed on.  He was the son of John BLAKEY/ BLAKLEY and Jennie (BARTLETT) BLAKLEY- LYLE.
 

On Oct 12, 1941In Memory of Paul Louis BLAKLEY. He was born the son of D.W. BLAKLEY Sr. and L. M. BLAKLEY

  Oct 21, 2011
In Memory of   PFC Isaac Richard BLAKLEY She passed.  He was the son of Isaac BLAKLEY and Anna (LANKFORD) BLAKLEY. Grandson of John BLAKEY / BLAKLEY and Jennie (BARTLETT) BLAKLEY LYLE


Oct 30, 2016 ~   Robert Evin. BLAKLEY Sr. He passed.  He was the son of   Isaac BLAKLEY and Anna (LANKFORD) BLAKLEY . Grandson of John BLAKEY / BLAKLEY and Jennie (BARTLETT) BLAKLEY LYLE

  Juanita (BARTLETT) ARMSTRONG

 Oct 3, 1915
In Memory of Harriett (ARMSTRONG) HICKS was born.  She was the daughter of George and Juanita (BARTLETT) ARMSTRONG.

Oct 29, 1932In Memory of Doris Jean HICKS. She was born the daughter of Winfred MABION and Harriett (ARMSTRONG) HICKS.

Compiled by Susan Ann Blakley

In Remembrance DADE Family Connections

 Compiled by Susan Ann Blakley


 Louis and Mary (VENOY) DADE

Oct 16 ~ In  Loving Memory of Louis Newton "Lew" DADE. He was born in 1847.
He was the son of Isaac DADE and Frances "Frankie" (OVINGTON) DADE.

 Oct 8 ~ In Loving  Memory of Virgil Louis KING. He was born in 1928.
He was the son of Barney and Hazel (DADE) KING.

Oct 22  ~ In Loving  Memory of Louis Phillip "Louie" DADE He passed at 100 years old in 2008. He was the son of Den DADE and Louetta (ROBINSON) DADE.

Louisa DADE WASHINGTON: Ellen (LOVE) HENDRED

 Oct 2  ~ In Loving  Memory of  James HENDRED was born in 1875. He was the son of George  HENDRED and Ellen (LOVE) HENDERD.

Oct 4, 1918 ~ In  Loving  Memory of Ethel Leona (CLAY) MANLEY. She was born. She was the wife of Artie William MANLEY

Oct 16, 1956 ~ In Loving  Memory of  George Edward HENDRED. He passed. He was the son of George HENDRED and Ellen (LOVE) HENDRED.

Oct 16, 1936 ~ In Loving  Memory of Doris Marie TATE. She was born. She was the wife of Harry CLAY.

  Oct 24 ~ In Loving Memory of Marshall HENDERD  He passed in 1964. He was the son of Isaac HENDRED and Elsie (MARSHALL) HENDRED.


Oct 28  ~ In Loving  Memory of  Baby Girl HENDRED  She was born and passed in 1960. She was the daughter of Floyd HENDRED and Lena (WASHINGTON) HENDRED.

Oct 30 1919 ~ In Loving  Memory of Thomas Elmer HENDRED. He passed. He was the son of George Edward HENDREDS and  Anna ROBINSON HENDREDS.

David and Louisa (DADE) WASHINGTON

Oct 1 1920 ~ In Loving Memory of Franklin Steven MALLORY. He was born. He was the husband of Mary Daisy TATE MALLORY.

Robert and Charlotta LANKFORD/LANKFARD

Oct of 1985 ~ In  Loving Memory of Irene (GRAHAM) LANKFARD. She passed. She was the wife of Nym LANKFORD / LANKFARD.

Oct 1, 2006  ~ In Loving Memory of  Frederick Eugene LANKFORD He passed. He was the son of Daniel "Pete" LANKFORD and Patricia (BARNETT) LANKFORD.

Oct 5, 2017 ~ In Loving Loving Memory of Josephine Louise (LANKFORD) WALKER WILSON .She passed. She was the daughter of Leo Sr. and Mary Anna (ALLEN) LANKFORD / LANKFARD.

Oct 7, 1989 ~ In Loving  Memory of David W. BLAKLEY Sr. He passed in his sleep. He was the husband of L.M BLAKLEY. He was the son of John BLAKEY/ BLAKLEY and Jennie (BARTLETT) BLAKLEY- LYLE.

Oct 9, 1913 ~ In Loving  Memory of Lydia M. LANKFORD. She was born. She was the wife of Charles "Puffy" LANKFORD.

Oct 10 ~ In Loving  Memory of William MADISON He was born in 1867.
He was the husband of Lula Mae (LANKFORD) MADISON.

Oct 11 ~ In Loving  Memory of Lula Mae (LANKFORD) MADISON She was born in 1875.
She was the daughter of Robert and Charlotta (DADE) LANKFORD / LANKFARD.

Oct 17, 2013 ~ In Loving  Memory of Cheryl L. STEGER.  She passed. She was the daughter of  Clifford STEGER and Vivian (NICKERSON) STEGER JAMES.

Oct 18 ~ In Loving  Memory of James WESTON Jr. was born in 1926.
He was the husband of Betty Marie (LANKFORD) WESTON.

Oct 21  ~ In Loving   Memory of  PFC Isaac Richard BLAKLEY He passed  in 2011.
He was the son of Isaac BLAKEY and Anna (LANKFORD) BLAKLEY.

Oct 24, 1934 ~ In Loving Memory of Robert MADISON. He was born. He was the son of William E. MADISON Jr. and Mattie MAYS MADISON.

Oct 26 ~ In  Loving Memory of  James Andrew LANKFORD was born  in 1874. He was the son of Robert and Charlotta (DADE) LANKFORD / LANKFARD.

Oct 26 ~ In Loving  Memory of Hattie McDaniel  She passed in 1952. She was the daughter of Henry McDaniel and Susan (HOLBERT) McDaniel. Hattie's 2nd husband was Nymudula "Nym" LANKFARD who was the son of Robert and Charlotta (DADE) LANKFORD / LANKFARD..

Oct 27 ~ In Loving   Memory of  Doris Laverne (NICKERSON) McCLARY DAVIS She passed in 2007. She was the daughter of Ezekiel W. NICKERSON  and Isabella V. (LANKFORD) NICKERSON

Oct 23 ~ In Loving  Memory of  Melvin E. WASHINGTON was born in 1932. He was the son of Melvin E. WASHINGTON and Leola (LANKFORD) WASHINGTON FARMER.

Oct 29, 2012 ~ In  Loving  Memory of Gladys (PEASON) LANKFORD. She passed. She was the wife of Charles A. LANKFORD.

Oct 30, 2016 ~  In Loving  Memory of Robert Evin. BLAKLEY Sr. He passed.  He was the son of   Isaac BLAKLEY and Anna (LANKFORD) BLAKLEY

Oct 31, 1922 ~ In Loving Memory of Gertrude Gertie (MORRIS) MADISON. She passed. She was the wife of Louis Edward MADISON.

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Oct 6, 1906 ~ In Loving  Memory of George MADISON. He passed in 1906. He was the husband of Mary Ann (DADE) MADISON.  The Find A Grave memorial could be the George that was married to Mary DADE.

Oct 15, 1920 ~ In Loving Memory of Maggie Margaret MADISON MAJOR. She passed. She was the daughter of George MADISON and Mary Ann (DADE) MADISON.

Oct 23, 1902 ~ In Loving Memory of Carl MAJORS. He was born the son of Charles MAJORS and Margaret "Maggie" (MADISON) MAJORS. Branch of  George MADISON and Mary Ann (DADE) MADISON.