I don't think they had surnames as we use them, (but I am not positive), and many times the name of the original ancestor who arrived in America was "lost". I believe they handed down the family history orally, nothing was written down, and this was left to a certain individual within the tribe. "ROOTS" was a great series to watch if you are interested, I watched it with fascination when it first came out, about 1976 or so. It is based on fact, but I am not sure how much of it is true. Doris