Creoles of Color in Mobile and French and Spanish Alabama

Creoles of Color - families of mixed European, African or Native American descent in Mobile and French and Spanish Alabama.

Profiles are of the first generation progenitors of Creole of Color families, although they may be solely of European, African or Native American descent themselves.

Location: Cajans in the hilly areas of Washington, Mobile, and Clarke counties as well as adjoining parts of Mississippi. Creoles in Mobile and Baldwin counties around Mobile Bay in Alabama. Name “Cajan” derived from fanciful resmblence to the Louisiana Cajuns or Acadians. Creole name derived from “Creole colored” or “Creole mixed.”

Cajans family names are Byrd, Carter, Chestang, Johnson, Jones, Rivers, Smith, Sullivan, Terry, and Weaver.

Creoles in Mobile had their own fire company and other organizations. Their chief family names (formerly indicated by special designation in the city directory) are Allen, Andry, Balasco, Ballariel, Battiste, Bernoudy, Cassino, Cato, Chastang or Chestang, Collins, Gomez, Hiner, Juzang, Lafargue, Laland, Laurendine, Laurent, Mazangue, Mifflin, Nicholas, Perez, Ponquinette, Pope, Reid, Taylor, and Trenier.

Resources

• Mobile Creole Cultural and Historical Preservation Society
• The Parish Identities of Free Creoles of Color in Pensacola and Mobile, 1698-1860