In the United States,’ African Americans were considered a “black” race. It was about the typical habit of human beings to have a naming system that can be related to people of their kind. Therefore, you’d, find that most African Americans have some common black last names, which are used by most of them. It is not rare to see people of a certain race with common last names since it’s regarded as trying to identify with those of your kin.
Black Last Names starting from A
Ames. – A friend or a beloved
Akers – arable land
Appling – Appolonia
Alvarez – son of Alvaro
Almond – noble protection
Abercrombie – the mouth of the bendy river
Abebe – Blossomed; grown
Arline – manly
Alex – man’s defender, warrior
Ardoin – Friend, Wine
Ancrum – a bend in the river Ale
Atchison – the son of Archibald
Acker – field
Ard – One that commands
Black Last Names starting from B
Blevins – wolflike
Burkes – burg
Bienaime – someone who lived in Gascony
Bunton – right little pet
Bibb – nursery
Byars – Bye
Beckles – meadow
Beaver – a place with a beautiful view
Berryman – one who dwelt at the castle
Burr – hill
Brower – a person who made beer
Belt – strap maker
Bird – nestling
Berger – someone who lived in the mountains
Bent – Blessed
Bester – keeper of beasts
Body – trunk
Brazil – strife
Braithwaite – clearing
Babineaux – from a pet form of Babin
Blakley – dark wood
Belin – Gift of god
Belizaire – trustworthy
Bobby – bright; shining
Bartee – bearded one
Brigham – little village near the bridge
Byron – cowshed
Branson – son of the raven
Barnhill – a person with brown hair
Burleson – to dress
Boose – a stall for a horse
Bost – tree
Byas – house
Bone – good
Brutus – heavy, dull
Bacote – Luck
Baynes – Poet, A traveling ballad singer
Breen – moisture
Bigelow – big mound
Breckenridge – from Brackenrig
Boxley – a clearing in the forest
Booze – alcoholic drink
Boler – maker or seller of bowls
Bembry – bridge
Baptist – to dip
Barley – grower or seller of barley
Bizzell – deer
Benbow – to bend
Bounds – crowded
Broady – broad island
Block – stocks
Barham – homestead
Bosley – woodland clearing
Brickhouse – hill
Blakes – Son of Lake
Bourgeois – freeman
Blakney – The Black Island
Brant – Proud
Barthelemy – Son of a farmer
Bull – aggressive
Ben – blessed
Bangura – Warrior
Boggan – to bend
Boss – hunchbacked
Beacham – lovely
Bee – She who brings happiness
Blassingame – hill
Blakemore – black
Boynton – town near the Boyne
Bearden – hill
Batten – having many furrows
Burge – bowl
Brockman – someone who lived by a brook
Buxton – Brewing stones
Blanc – white
Batiste – Batiste
Belser – Thanks
Brevard. – short, brief
Bluford – everlasting
Benefield – area which beans are planted
Belgrave – beautiful grove
Bynes – makes you charming
Bastien – Venerable
Burts – fortified enclosure
Barefield – a person in the habit without shoes
Bennet – blessed
Last Names starting from C
Carver – a plowman
Coe – jackdaw
Cooksey – cock’s island
Chavers
Carrier – a porter
Cline – small
Chenault – channel
Casimir – to spoil or destroy
Cromer – crow lake
Castleberry – Castel
Croft – who lived by an arable enclosure
Coakley – dweller near the cold ravine
Caird – worker in brass
Caine – cane
Charity – generosity, and humanity
Calixte – most beautiful or lovely
Crews – bold
Caudle – cold
Cobbins – lump
Cotton – cottages
Carty – loving
Claxton – those who lived near the clayey soil
Cousar – cheerful
Curley – son of
Cesar – emperor
Colman – white dove
Coachman – who drove passengers
Cottman – person worked as a horse breeder
Colley – clearing with a hut or shelter
Clary – a herb seller
Cornell – horn
Culberson – Fair
Cullins – Handsome; a good-looking lad
Coombs – valley
Cauthen – old and thorn tree
Clardy – Bright
Caffey – the fair-haired victor
Copes – a cloak
Core – Heart
Custis – accomplished
Castro – castle
champagne – An exotic dancer
constant – faithful
Chappelle – Chapel
Carothers – Critters
Cauley – Relic
Creighton – farm
Cassell – Castel
Clack – lump
Cargill – The Stony Stream
craven – Crave
Crooms – bent
Criswell – Extremely attractive
Charlot – man
Crossley – Cross
Coggins – Hound of War
Chadwick – Town or village of Chad
Citizen – uncertain
Carnes – black
Crumbley – bent
Clarkson – son of the clerk
Black Last Names starting from D
Dunkley – woodland clearing
Dill – the son of Dilk
Dennison – the divine one of Nysa
Doby – bright, famous
Drummer – a ridge
Dexter – dye
Faraway – cross
Dorsett – sweet, pleasant
Devaughn – Original Celtic for divine
Duhart – one from a place called Uhart
Dalvert – calf
Downer – one who lived in an area of downland
Dunmore – great hill
Demby – Polish
Daly – one who is present at assemblies
Dowling – dull
Denmark – immigrant
Dell – valley
Dugas – untilled
Dover – the waters
Duplessis – one who lived by a quickset fence
Dones – woman
Daily – one who is present at assemblies
Dublin – Little Dobb
Dargan – red
Damon – to tame, subdue
Delva – of the valley
Dupont – bridge
Duren – the son of Durant
Donahue – battle
Draughn – son of Druachan
Danzy – nancy
Dunigan – brown
Dejean – of the gardens
Doucet – soft
Dawes – good
Dear – beloved
Davie – beloved
Denham – homestead
Duhon – thumb
Dendy – For someone who was a male, where it was initially used as a pet form of Andrew
Black Last Names starting from E
Ealey – ingenious
Emmanuel – God is with us
Everson – The son of Everard
Eddings – Son of Eadda
Ester – Star Or Myrtle Leaf
Earley – Early riser
Ethridge – Noble-ruler
Erving – Water
Erby – Descendant
Edgerton – Enclosure
Ebanks – A dweller by the yew-bank
Elkins – Jehovah is God
Eaves – The son of Eve
Emory – Home strength
Edmunds – Protection
Essex – East Saxons
Ely – Eel
Eddins – A person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill
Names starting from F
Fludd – to flow
Foust – fist
Ferdinand – daring or brave
Fultz – play a significant role in the tribal
Fain – fine
Fortenberry – influence in struggles for power
Ferebee – the village at the ferry
Fauntleroy – Defend the King
Fulcher – army
Farah – delight
Flakes – someone who lived near a swamp
Flemings – a Flemish person
Fenderson – Lords of the Mano
footman – foot
Frink – liberal, generous
Freeland – free + land
Fenton – marsh
Frazer – the generous
Findley – fair
Finklea – cheerful person who sings a song
Fenwick – outlying dairy farm
Funchess – always honest and true
Filsaime – beloved son
Fogg – someone who grazed cattle on grass
Featherstone – an ancient grave
Field – lived in an area of land
Names starting from G
Glaspie – the bishop’s servant
Giddings – good
Glasco – hollows
Guthrie – windy place
Gaillard – the bold or the joyous
Gayles – rowdy
Garnes – farm
Greathouse – big house
Gwynn – light
Goldsby – farm
Gayden – heathen
Gordan – spacious fort
Gaynor – white top head
Gravely – dead
Granville – settlement
Gallman – son of the battle chief
Granderson – Grandson
Greenfield – open country
Goosby – someone with bright yellow hair
Gethers – someone from either of two places
Griffiths – strong lord
Grover – hollow grave
Grimsley – wood
Gorman – dark blue
Grate – son of prosperity
Gossett – the son of Goce
Goodrich – famous
Goudeau – good
Glanton – Look-out hill
Grove – wood
Gillum – a son of a protector in society
Goings – metalworker
Goods – a person who performed good deeds
Gauthier – armed
Gardiner – Little clearing
Granberry – Gem berry
Ginyard – yard with alcoholic spirit plants
Guilford – ford where the marigolds grew
Goodall – an innkeeper
Gleaton – Lords of the Manor
Gallon – rooster
Grantham – snarler
Ghee – son of
Goodwyn – Good wine
Golding – a friend of gold
Goldston – a farm or hamlet
Gammage – The Winding River
Gholson – Lord
Goodrum – battle snake
Ginn – a snare or trap
Names starting from H
Hartley – wood
Hurley – clearing
Holsey – a person who resided near a hill, steam
Hogg – yearling sheep
Hagler – farm
Hartman – brave and hardy
Haggins – young
Hutchison – heart
Hawk – a lord
Hite – someone who lived at the height
Hepburn – burial mound
Hewlett – the son of Hugh
Hornsby – farm
Handley – a wood
Hammock – Lords of the Manor
Holbrook – brook in a hollow
Hatfield – open country
Hair – stony ground
Harvell – battle or carnage
Hunte – a hunter
Hilson – son in a hill
Hollowell – spring or stream in a hollow
Hallman – someone who lived by a large house
Hurdle – herd
Hagins – young
Hazzard – a game of chance
Hymes – life
Hogans – a youth
Haynie – a male bird
Halliburton – homestead by a hazel grove
Hagood – son of the priest
Hockaday – An ancient festival
Hickerson – the son of Richard
Hathaway – way
Holcombe – deep hollow valley
Hoskin – a maker or seller of hose
Hickey – healer
Harewood – wood
Hatter – one resident by a hat-shaped hill
Helton – farmstead
Harwell – a spring
Harlan – one lived in the land full of hares
Hensley – woodland clearing
horsey – low-lying land
Black Last Names starting from J
Ireland – Irishman, and, territory
January – a Roman god of the beginning
Jeanty – heavy twilled cotton cloth
Judd – the one who speaks directly
Jarrell – spear-brave
Jason – the son of Judd
Jacks – supplanter
Jessup – may God increase
Jay – joyful, lively
Jimmerson – son of James
June – young
Jonas – dove
Jester – professional reciter of romances
Jama – blessed
Jean – The Lord is gracious
Jalloh – honest
Black Last Names starting from K
Keel – ridge
Kittrell – An influence envied by a princess
Kersey – island where the watercress grows
Kenny – love or affection
Kitt – a maker or seller of wooden tubs
Kershaw – one lived near the church-wood
Keeling – young codfish
Kimber – warrior
Kates – root gate (road or thoroughfare)
Kizer – Supreme ruler, king, ruler
Kinnard – top
Kuykendall – From the view of the valley
Kindle – The valley of the River Kent
Knuckles – the people
Kimber – wood
Names starting from L
Leaks – brook
Legrand – large
Lauderdale – a trench
Layton – herb garden
Leday – of the Liddel
Latson – bay trees
Loftin – house
Link – rising ground or a ridge
Leftwich – dear or beloved
Lopes – son of Mexico (Wolf)
Lightner – light place
Ladd – young man
Lawhorn – hunter
Laird – a landowner
Lance – land or territory
Louissaint – everlasting
Lumpkins – bright land
Leavell – wolf
Lockley – wood
Lesane – Freedom and justice
Leroy – The King
Lowman – hill
Loper – Loop
Lakes – a bog
Lampkins – Land
Lafayette – faith
Leisure – Happiness
Lagrone – lofty
Lovejoy – Joy in love
Lucien – light
Laing – tall
Names starting from M
Mondesir – my desire
Mckie – son of Aodh
Millner – mill
Mathieu – Gift of God
Munn – monk
Morrell – black man
Mahan – The Great One
Mcmichael – a son of the follower of St. Michael
Mock – to be heaped up
Mcclean – son of the servant of Saint John
Mclin – joy
Munford – a hill
McCollough – boar
Munroe – a man of Ro
Milburn – mill + stream
Mccutcheon – son of
Mars – marsh
Mcadams – earth
Mauldin – hill with a crucifix
Magwood – enclosure
Mendez – son or descendant of Mendel
Morsley – the grove or thin wood on the moor
Maloney – bald
Mckeever – son of Íomhar
Merrick – branch or fork of a road or river
Mickle – great
McFarlin – waves of the sea
Mance – a handle
Marlow – lake
Merrell – bright
Mackie – son of Aodh
Mcilwain – breathe
Macbeth – a religious person
Maurice – dark
McDougle – black
McEwen – born of yew
Millender – very rare mill
Moyer – son of the steward
Mckissick – son of Isaac
Maple – someone who lived by a maple tree
Murph – battle
McEachin – horse
Milan – grace
Mccary – son of the young
McMillion – son of the bald or tonsured one.
Mcphail – small
mickles – great
Middlebrook – a brook or stream
Miley – big and soft
Mckelvey – who is like God
Morning – the period before 12 pm
Milam – someone who lived near the old Roman town
Minnis – love
Names starting from N
Newberry – fortified town
Nathaniel – Gift of God
Northington – town
Nadiya – hope
Napoleon – Lion of Naples
Nall – a poor man
Nugent – new settlement
Nowell – Christmas
Nwosu – the son of a great warrior
Nation – uncertain origins
Neeley – champion
Names starting from O
Okafor – born on Afor
Odoms – old farm
Osei – noble or honorable
Osborn – Divine bear
Otey – a clearing
Olive – olive tree
Ollie – elf army
Okeke – a boy born on Eke
Names starting from P
Phoenix – dark red
Pinkard – pick hard
Poteat – cheerful peacock
Peak – a top of a hill
Pegram – a person who had made a pilgrimage
Pharr – a lusty person
Patten – a maker or seller of clogs,
Pipkins – awe-inspiring, terrible
Pearsall – breeder of animals
Pryce – son of enthusiasm
Pankey – young noble
Pool – someone who lived near a lake or pond
Pye – a talkative or thievish person
Porterfield – a portion of land of the doorkeeper
Paxton – peace in a town
Pyles – stake
Peake – who came from Peak
Persaud – Gracious gift
Philip – horse
Percy – Pierce Valley
Pasley – to do handicraft
Pickney – village or town
Penson – a person of wealth
Pledger – one who pledges in a lawsuit
Prejean – John’s meadow
Pippins – foreigner
Priest – Dweller at the church
Pelzer – furrier
Plunkett – white
Plowden – the valley where sport takes place
Porch – a manor house
Prude – honorable woman
Pogue – a child of light
Names starting from R
Reyes – royal
Rochester – swift stream
Rhymes – king
Raphael – God heals
Range – naughty boy
Rome – Strength, power
Rufus – red-head
Rideaux – to fold
Rawlins – Son of Rolfe
Renfro – lotus as a God’s Gift
Raiford – Love
Rowan – little redhead
Register – enroll
Ritter – mounted warrior
Ransome – riverbank
Ramseur – hard work
Rahman – Gracious
Rambo – raven’s nest
Remy – oarsman
Rochelle – little rock
Rascoe – deer forest
Ralph – wolf-counsel
Rachal – To whisper
Ruiz – renown
Ren – water lily
Roe – Red haired
Rockett – the Little Rock
Regis – king
Rector – leader
Rounds – circle
Roque – Rock
Rasberry – a sweet rose-colored wine
Roney – the descendant of the champion
Names starting from S
Saxon – swordsman
Stover – a maker or seller of beakers or mugs
Simien – to hearken
Scarborough – fortress
Stitt – steer
Standifer – stone ford
Sonnier – Bell Ringer
Sealey – happy and blessed
Sumler – distribution
Sumner – a petty officer who warned people to appear in court
Senegal – a country on the coast of West Africa
Stringfellow – mighty partner
Surratt – Notable people
Sessions – a period of a particular activity
Seabrooks – slow-moving
Speaks – talks
Stclair – a person who resided near a hill
Shuford – towns, villages
Starnes – a stern person
Spear – a tall skinny person
Stratton – settlement
Steel – a metal
Strachan – valley
Square – slang for an old-fashioned person
Stowe – a meeting place
Sellars – a merchant who worked in cellars
Spell – what is meant by a word or text
Sheard – Who lived by a gap between hills
Simmonds – to hearken
Stout – steadfast
Searles – protector
Simeon – Obedient
Shoulders – Someone with broad shoulders
Swinney – pleasant
Sankey – sacred
Southern – from the south
Seawright – victory-power
Sills – wood
Spratley – dweller at the sign of the sprat
Sorrells – the reddish color of dry leaves
Suttles – a smart person
Scriven – writer
Sain – who acted as a servant or attendant
Slayton – From the valley farm
Sangster – a person who was a singer or musician
Sylvain – wood, forest
Scaife – difficult
Starkey – firm and unyielding
Stacy – bountiful grain
Swindell – pig valley
Slocum – dweller in the valley
Swaby – farm
Scoggins – the bearded one
Names starting from T
Toles – painted
Thrash – to beat
Tilley – battle-mighty
Tilghman – husbandman or farmer
Triggs – faithful
Thacker – thatch
Torain – raindrop
Thaxton – The farm
Timberlake – wood stream
Thornhill – a hill overgrown with thorn bushes
Tull – patience
Thorn – bush
Turnipseed – a maker of seeds of wood, metal
Taplin – a tall, thin person
Teel – a small duck
Taft – the site of a house and its outbuildings
Turney – height
Tobin – God is good
Tracy – war-like
Travers – passage
Threadgill – who embroidered with gold thread
Totten – a village fool or idiot
Tookes – trunk
Tarpley – Shelter from the wilds lion
Tinker – a naughty child
Tindal – An attendant on an army
Trawick – loving nature
Names starting from W
Westmoreland – the west territory of the Yorkshire moors
Westbrooks – west grove
Wanigan – a garden of babies love and happiness
Wardlaw – watcher of the hill
Witt – white
Woodfork – someone who lived by a fork in the road in woodland
Whipple – someone who lived by a whippletree
Womble – spring or stream in a hollow
Worthington – From the river’s side
Works – by the work
Waites – watch
Wilford – a river crossing
Willard – will be strong
Warrick – From The Town By The River
Woodford – a bridge
Warr – wary
Wisdom – a wise or learned person
Woodhouse – dweller lived near the wood
Weatherly – woodland clearing
Weary – fishermen
Whitman – fair or white and man
Wilbourn – well stream or spring
Wafer – To weave
Wiles – trick
Waterman – who lived by a stretch of water
Whittle – white hill
Wint – someone who lived by a road or pat
Waring – to shelter or protect
Welsh – a stranger or foreigner
Whitsett – white businessman
Welcome – straight valley
Wormley – snake clearing
Waugh – foreigner
Names starting from V
Vanburen – from neighbours
Vital – life
Venson – fair son
Vasquez – son of a guy from the Basque region
Vasser – Water
Vandyke – from earthwork
Names starting from Y
Youmans – a free landholder
Yusuf – God increases
Yearby – upper village or homestead
Names starting from Z
Zackery – the Lord recalled
Names starting from U
Upton – settlement
Urquhart – the portion of the shot
Premina Parker, is a parenting advisor. She is the author, most recently, parenting blog called Genbabycarrier.com. Her work has helped Time win two National Magazine Awards.
