Real Nansemond Names
As a Bass, I was born with one of the most recognizable “Nansemond names.” However, the Bass name was not associated with Nansemond ancestry until John Bass(e) (b. 1616), an English minister, married Elizabeth (b. 1618), a Nansemond woman and daughter of a Nansemond Chief, in 1638. Descendants of Elizabeth (my 9th great grandmother) have become some of the most researched Nansemond people; however, she was one of over a thousand who were born, lived, and died in settlements surrounding the Nansemond River whose real Nansemond names (of the Algonquian language) have been lost. In this brief article, I will share some names of Nansemond people and places that were documented at first contact.
When the English arrived in Nansemond territory in the early 1600s, their objective was to acquire additional resources. The Jamestown settlement’s food supply was not sufficient to sustain the pace of growth and John Smith strategically sent out two expeditions to settle new areas. John Martin and George Percy were sent with 60 men by boat to Nansemond (while Michael Sicklemore led another group to the same area by land). The men described the Nansemond as being governed by four werowances1,2—Weyhohomo, Amapetough, Weyongopo, and Tirchtough. The term “werowance” (meaning “antler wearer”) and each of these names were part of the Algonquian language spoken by the Nansemond.
To date, these are the only documented Algonquian names of early Nansemond people and places3. All other “Nansemond names” are English names held by individuals of Nansemond ancestry.
References
1Conquest of Virginia, the third attempt, 1610-1624 : Virginia founded under the charters of 1609 and 1612 : an account based on original documents of the establishment of the colony, by the Virginia Company of London by Conway Whittle Sams
2The Cradle of the Republic, Jamestown and James River – Lyon Gardiner Tyler
3Treaty Between Virginia and the Indians (1677) named Pattanochus as the King of the Nansanticoes, Nanzemunds, & Portabacchoes. This name is often cited as the King of the Nansemonds along the Nansemond River however this is an error. There were two signatures and this name, Pattanochus, was associated with a King who lived in King George County. The name of the Nansemond King who lived further south was not specified.
Descendants of the Great Dismal 
I have bass lines also bayes and tucker my email is bigbangrabbitry777@gmail.com is anyone wantd to connect
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I wonder what sound that -ough represented. Was it -ough is in ‘borough,’ or ‘plough.’ “Weyingopo” looks a bit like that greeting, “Wingapo.”
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It’s like a man’s name.. same with women’s names ending in ske, squa… opechancanough is the one or man whose soul is white.. my son’s name is kekutonowasanough(one or man that bears lightning)
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Thanks for sharing. I’ve always been in awe of the Nansemond. I live in Suffolk and used to live on the marsh in Chuckatuck across from Dumpling Island (supposedly where the Nansemond stores their food supplies?).
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Doing a family tree for my son Kevin Cummings, I find that Elizabeth Tucker was my sons 9th grandmother and her husband Rev. Bass, his 9th grandfather. If I have run the family tree correctly, I have never heard of this tribe, here in lower Virginia all I have known was Cherokee tribe. Excited to tell my son and granddaughter.
Carmen Berry Cummings Blevins
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Documentating the Bass family history of the Nansemond tribe is worth the effort!
I am so glad Nikki is interested and cares about putting history both oral and obscured on record. Nansemond tribe is no longer vanishing !
I am also Bass DNA match with Alabama / GA / NC / VA roots who is an investigator, researcher and genealogist.
Thank you for all you do!
From Windy
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Been there many when I lived in Suffolk and spent lots of time on the river.I remember there were lots of animal bones
,maybe pigs?This was in the fifties!
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Good read Nikki!
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Thank you!
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Polly Bass is my 5th grandmother and John Launier Bass (her father) is my 6th grandfather. William Pettiford (b. 1761) is my 6th grandfather. I am interested in learning all that I can about my family and the old ways.
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Please contact me. I’m seeking information about this family.
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My research links me back to Edward Bass being my 10th grandfather and Mary Tucker as my grandma. I’m getting confused with different stories I’ve read. I see that he was John’s brother and that Mary was an Indian, but I can’t tell if she was of this same tribe or a different one. Any suggestions? Thank you so much for the work you’re doing!
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Research is your passion! Are you archiving your history,a family tree or research papers in the Virginia libraries or historical societies? We must pass on your facts for future generations. Thank you very much.
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Hello.. thanks so much for doing the great work your doing!! I just found out that I am a descendant of the John basse (1616 – 1699)/keziah Elizabeth (1618 – 1676) Line through their son Richard basse (1658 – 1722). Richards son was Richard Bass (1707 – 1780), whos son was named William Bass (1748 – 1802). William Bass’s son was Felix Bass (1773 – 1835), who’s son was William H Bass ( 1825 – ). His son was William R Bass (1852 – 1927). William R Bass had a daughter named Bessie Bass (1894 – 1935). Bessie Bass had a daughter named Mamie Jane Gautier. Mamie had a son named Bobby Gene Turner and he had a daughter Named Nethia Turner. Nethia Turner had a daughter named Hannah and that’s me 🙂 i never knew much about my maternal grandpa (bobby turner) he passed away at the age of 23, but this is amazing!!
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I’m ur relation. Please contact me?
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I am a bass family descent as well. And I have completed proof of that. I am a Nansemond. Please contact me anytime? mattwren74@gmail.com
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Wado for sharing your knowledge. I have found Keziah Bass married to John Cox which is my line that includes many native lines including Starr, Davis, Reed, Mourning Dove, and others. I am very interested in knowing more. Please let’s chat.
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I am looking into the Brights, (Margaret Bright 1700’a who married a Gregory.) and through Robin the Elder and the Tuckers, whose linage traces back to I believe it is the Powhatan. Through Pocahontas, and Cleopatra Swanee, to the marriage of a Samuel Eure to Mary Hoyter Chowanoake Indian of NC. or possiblly Mary Bass. My family from my mothers side always thought we were Cherokee. Come to find out we descend from the Nansemond, Choanoke, and Pemunkey Powhatan. Trying to connect the dots and there are quite a few of them. Also tracing from my Terry family name back into the Moytoy Cherokee, or Eastern Cherokee out of Tn. Many thanks for all of the info. found here by all. I hope that all of the moccasins walking on this path find their way back home.This is the greatest honor we can give to our ancestors by following their footsteps that they took so many years ago. We let them know that they have not been forgotten,and in our searching we keep them alive in our hearts and spirits. Let our foot prints be light upon the back of our Mother Earth. Long Hollow Horn
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