Tann Family History: Preserving the Generations
from Kikotan Nation in Virginia
Discover the roots of the Tann family, beginning with the Kikotan Nation, and explore the journey of our ancestors across Virginia and beyond.
Climbing the Tann Family Tree
Kicatan, Kikatan, Kicotan, Kikotan, Kiccowtan, Kikowtan
Why it is important to preserve our Kikotan Hertiage
"desyroeous for to be Revendged upon the Indians, att Kekowahtan"
-Sir Thomas Gates, Governor of Virginia -July 1610
"To drive the remaining "savages from the land known as the Kikotan Massacre."- March 22, 1622
""Change the savage name of Kicotan to Elizabeth City"- 1611
""To root out [ the indian] from being any longer a people"
Welcome to Tann Family History
Uncover Your Indigenous Roots and Connect with Your Ancestry
Curious about your Indigenous roots and how you're connected to the Tann family legacy? Begin your journey here with trusted guidance.
Led by renowned genealogist Dr. Guadalupe Vanderhorst Rodriguez, this site offers expertly researched insights into the Tann family tree, exploring generations of ancestral connections. Discover how your genealogy is tied to powerful family stories—both colonial and Indigenous—and preserved through documented history, oral tradition, and DNA research.
Reclaim your identity by exploring your ancestry, understanding your Indigenous roots, and honoring the lives of your ancestors. From migration records to surname origins and family ties across centuries, this resource helps you build a deeper connection with your heritage and expand your family tree with purpose and pride.
Start your exploration of the Tann family history today. Let Dr. Guadalupe Vanderhorst Rodriguez guide you through detailed genealogical records and ancestral narratives that illuminate your path. Join others in reclaiming their stories—your roots are waiting to be rediscovered.
The Tann Family Connection:
Hidden Roots in Virginia’s Kikotan Nation
Honoring Indigenous Heritage in Virginia
Are you searching for the untold story of the Indigenous people of Virginia? The Kikotan Nation, one of the original Native American tribes of the Chesapeake Bay, welcomes you to explore a powerful legacy of resilience, identity, and survival.
The Kikotan Nation—also known historically as Kiccowtan or Kecoughtan—is an ancient Indigenous tribe that lived along the shores of present-day Hampton, Virginia. Learn how this sovereign Native community preserved its culture despite colonization, displacement, and historical erasure.
Reconnect with your roots and understand the enduring spirit of the Kikotan people. Through family histories, cultural teachings, and historical records, we invite you to walk the sacred path of your Indigenous ancestors and reclaim your rightful place in history.
Join us as we revive the voice of the Kikotan Nation. Explore our site to learn more about Native American history in Virginia, connect with descendants, and discover the power of Indigenous identity that continues to thrive today.
Uncover the Tann Surname and Indigenous Lineages of Virginia’s Native American Nations
Curious about your connection to Virginia’s Indigenous past? The Tann surname may be the key to uncovering your Native American ancestry.
The Kikotan Nation and other Indigenous Nations of Virginia hold a rich history often hidden or misrepresented. Through surname research—like that of the Tann family—you can begin to trace powerful ancestral ties that link directly to Native American communities that once thrived in Virginia’s Tidewater region.
Imagine discovering that your family name connects you to a proud legacy of resilience, cultural identity, and Indigenous strength. By exploring surnames such as Tann, you’ll unlock clues to your ancestry, tribal connections, and the historical roots that shaped generations.
Start your journey today. Dive into the history of the Kikotan Nation, explore the origins of the Tann surname, and connect with the untold stories of Virginia’s Native American tribes. Your Indigenous roots are waiting to be reclaimed.
Tann Family Genealogy:
Discover Your Ancestral Roots in the Indigenous Nations of Virginia
Trace your Tann family lineage through Virginia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and beyond.
Explore deep Indigenous roots, uncover connections to the Kikotan Nation, and follow the migration patterns that shaped generations.
Begin your journey of ancestry and genealogy to rediscover the powerful legacy of the Tann surname across state lines.
The Kicotan Nation's Legacy: From Virginia to Oklahoma
The Kicotan Nation, a proud Algonquian-speaking Indigenous people, carried their heritage forward through generations. As colonial pressures rose, many Kicotan families adopted surnames like Tann and intermarried with English settlers.
Over time, they migrated from their ancestral lands in Virginia to North Carolina, South Carolina, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and eventually Oklahoma. Despite assimilation, the spirit of the Kicotan endured—preserving cultural roots, oral traditions, and a powerful sense of identity that lives on through their descendants today.
John Tann
John Tann's wife: Mary Jane Snyder
The Tann family in South Carolina, maintained connection to their Kicotan roots by intermarry with other indigenous families in South Carolina. John and Mary Jane Tann lived in Moncks Corner, South Carolina with their family.
The Varners who are Waccamaw people lived within Summerville, Moncks Corners, and Goose Creek in South Carolina towns where the Tann family.
Joan Davis Betts, the granddaughter of Olive Tann and Marion Varner. Joan Davis Betts, a registered member of the Waccamaw nation in South Carolina.
And throughout the years, the descendants of John and Mary Jane Tann connect with their Kicotan culture while stepping to the beat of modern times.
To learn more about the other branches of the Tann family visit: Tann Family History
Joan and I met in 1999, in a genealogy chatroom. She lived in Apache Junction in Arizona. We maintain contact with each other sharing the information that we discovered about the Tann family of South Carolina. She wanted to learn more about Henry Tann who left South Carolina and lived in Florida.
She said, "He never wanted to return to South Carolina, not even for a funeral. Joan also, knew, Elijah Tann, and described him as being tall and thin, who always wore a hat.
In June 2013, Joan died in Apache Junction of Lung Cancer. She was one of the Tann Family Historians who spent years unrevealing the Tann Family Tree.
Tann Family Gift Shop
Tann Family Gift Shop offers unique family keepsakes, reunion gifts, and everyday treasures. From custom mugs and t-shirts to hoodies, journals, and heritage-inspired designs, our shop celebrates family pride and tradition.
Perfect for family reunions, birthdays, and special occasions, every item is crafted to honor your legacy. Shop now for memorable, personalized gifts that connect generations.
Emily and Her Kikotan Ancestors:
A Heartwarming Journey of Discovery and Indigenous Pride
"Emily and Her Kikotan Ancestors" is a beautifully written story about an 8-year-old girl named Emily who uncovers a remarkable truth—her family descends from the Kikotan Nation, one of Virginia's earliest Native American tribes.
With curiosity and courage, Emily embarks on a journey to learn more about her Indigenous roots. Guided by stories from her grandmother and clues from the past, she pieces together a vibrant tapestry of culture, strength, and connection.
As Emily learns about her ancestors—who once lived by the rivers, honored the earth, and cherished community—she finds a deeper understanding of herself. She proudly shares what she learns with her classmates, helping others appreciate the beauty and resilience of Indigenous families.
This inspiring children’s book blends ancestral wisdom, family history, and cultural pride. It's a perfect introduction to Native American heritage for young readers and families seeking diverse stories that celebrate identity, heritage, and belonging.
