Who was the family that owned most slaves in south?

There is no single family that can be definitively identified as the single largest slave owner in the South. Slavery was a widespread practice in the Southern United States prior to the Civil War, and there were numerous wealthy and prominent families who owned large numbers of slaves. Some of the families known for their significant slave ownership include:

1. The Randolph Family of Virginia: The Randolph family, one of the most prominent families in Virginia, was known for its extensive landholdings and slave ownership. William Randolph, the family's patriarch, acquired vast plantations and enslaved people during the 17th and 18th centuries.

2. The Lee Family of Virginia: The Lee family, including Robert E. Lee, the Confederate general, also owned a substantial number of slaves. The family's estates, such as Stratford Hall and Arlington House, relied on slave labor for their agricultural operations.

3. The Taylor Family of Louisiana: The Taylor family was a prominent slave-owning family in Louisiana. Richard Taylor, the head of the family, owned numerous sugar plantations and enslaved people in the state.

4. The Wade Hampton Family of South Carolina: The Wade Hampton family was a wealthy plantation-owning family in South Carolina. Wade Hampton, a Confederate general, and later governor of South Carolina, was known for his extensive slave ownership.

5. The Preston Family of Virginia: The Preston family was a prominent political family in Virginia. William Campbell Preston, a U.S. Senator, and his family were among the largest slave owners in the state.

It's important to note that these families were not the only significant slave owners in the South, and there were many other families and individuals who owned large numbers of slaves during the antebellum period.