African American Last Names: A Journey Through History and Meaning

This comprehensive list explores the fascinating world of African American last names. From traditional surnames passed down through generations to names adopted during slavery and emancipation, this compilation delves into the rich history and diverse origins of these names. This resource offers insight into the cultural significance and unique meanings behind each surname, providing a glimpse into the rich tapestry of African American heritage.
1. **Anderson:** A common English surname meaning "son of Andrew." Many African Americans bear this name due to its prevalence among slave owners or as a result of forced name changes during slavery.
2. **Bailey:** A surname of English origin, meaning "bailiff" or "court official." The name was often adopted by people who worked as bailiffs or held positions of authority.
3. **Baker:** A surname that originated as an occupational name for someone who baked bread or pastries. It was commonly given to people who worked as bakers.
4. **Bell:** An English surname derived from the word "belle," meaning "beautiful" or "handsome." The name might have been given to people with beautiful features or who lived near a bell tower.
5. **Bennett:** A surname of English origin that means "little son." It was often given to the youngest son in a family.
6. **Brooks:** A surname with English origins, meaning "brook" or "stream." The name was given to people who lived near a brook or stream, or who worked as a brookkeeper.
7. **Brown:** A surname that originated as a descriptive name for someone with brown hair or complexion. It was commonly given to people who had brown features.
8. **Bryant:** A surname of English origin, meaning "bright" or "strong." It was given to people who were known for their intelligence, strength, or bravery.
9. **Butler:** An English surname that originally referred to a servant or attendant to a nobleman. It later became a surname for anyone who worked as a servant.
10. **Campbell:** A Scottish surname with Gaelic origins, meaning "crooked mouth" or "twisted mouth." It was often given to people who had a crooked or twisted mouth.
11. **Carter:** A surname of English origin, meaning "cart driver" or "one who carries loads." It was commonly given to people who worked as cart drivers.
12. **Clark:** An English surname that means "scribe" or "clerk." It was often given to people who worked as scribes or clerks.
13. **Coleman:** A surname that originated as a place name from Coleman Street in London. The name was given to people who lived near this street.
14. **Collins:** A surname of English origin, meaning "son of Colin." It was given to the offspring of a man named Colin.
15. **Cook:** A surname of English origin, meaning "one who cooks." It was commonly given to people who worked as cooks.
16. **Cooper:** A surname of English origin, meaning "barrel maker." It was often given to people who worked as coopers.
17. **Davis:** A surname of Welsh origin, meaning "son of David." It was given to the offspring of a man named David.
18. **Edwards:** A surname of Welsh origin, meaning "son of Edward." It was given to the offspring of a man named Edward.
19. **Evans:** A surname of Welsh origin, meaning "son of Evan." It was given to the offspring of a man named Evan.
20. **Foster:** A surname of English origin, meaning "one who fosters or rears." It was often given to people who cared for orphans or children.
21. **Franklin:** A surname of English origin, meaning "freeholder" or "landowner." It was given to people who owned land freely.
22. **Garcia:** A surname of Spanish origin, meaning "wolf." It is a common surname in Spain and Latin America.
23. **Gibson:** A surname of English origin, meaning "son of Gib" or "son of Gilbert." It was given to the offspring of a man named Gib or Gilbert.
24. **Gonzalez:** A surname of Spanish origin, meaning "son of Gonzalo." It is a common surname in Spain and Latin America.
25. **Gray:** A surname of English origin, meaning "grey" or "silver." It was often given to people with grey hair or a silver complexion.
26. **Green:** A surname of English origin, meaning "green" or "one who lives near a green area." It was often given to people who lived in a verdant area.
27. **Hall:** A surname of English origin, meaning "hall" or "large building." It was often given to people who lived near a large building or who worked in one.
28. **Harris:** A surname of English origin, meaning "son of Harry" or "son of Henry." It was given to the offspring of a man named Harry or Henry.
29. **Harrison:** A surname of English origin, meaning "son of Harry" or "son of Henry." It was given to the offspring of a man named Harry or Henry.
30. **Hawkins:** A surname of English origin, meaning "son of Hawk." It was given to the offspring of a man named Hawk.
31. **Henderson:** A surname of English origin, meaning "son of Henry." It was given to the offspring of a man named Henry.
32. **Hernandez:** A surname of Spanish origin, meaning "son of Hernando." It is a common surname in Spain and Latin America.
33. **Hill:** A surname of English origin, meaning "hill" or "one who lives on a hill." It was often given to people who lived on a hill.
34. **Jackson:** A surname of English origin, meaning "son of Jack" or "son of John." It was given to the offspring of a man named Jack or John.
35. **James:** A surname of English origin, meaning "supplanter" or "he who takes the place of another." It was often given to people who had a strong will.
36. **Jenkins:** A surname of English origin, meaning "son of Jenkin" or "son of John." It was given to the offspring of a man named Jenkin or John.
37. **Johnson:** A surname of English origin, meaning "son of John." It was given to the offspring of a man named John.
38. **Jones:** A surname of English origin, meaning "son of John." It was given to the offspring of a man named John.
39. **Jordan:** A surname of English origin, meaning "descending from the Jordan River." It was often given to people who lived near the Jordan River.
40. **Kelly:** A surname of Irish origin, meaning "bright" or "handsome." It was often given to people who were known for their intelligence or good looks.
41. **Kennedy:** A surname of Irish origin, meaning "descendant of Conn." It was given to people who descended from Conn, a legendary Irish king.
42. **King:** A surname of English origin, meaning "one who rules." It was often given to people who held a position of power or authority.
43. **Lee:** A surname of English origin, meaning "meadow" or "clearing." It was often given to people who lived in a meadow or clearing.
44. **Lewis:** A surname of English origin, meaning "famous warrior." It was often given to people who were known for their bravery or skill in battle.
45. **Lopez:** A surname of Spanish origin, meaning "wolf." It is a common surname in Spain and Latin America.
46. **Martin:** A surname of Latin origin, meaning "warlike" or "from Mars, the Roman god of war." It was often given to people who were known for their bravery or strength.
47. **Martinez:** A surname of Spanish origin, meaning "son of Martin." It is a common surname in Spain and Latin America.
48. **Mason:** A surname of English origin, meaning "stone worker" or "builder." It was often given to people who worked as masons.
49. **May:** A surname of English origin, meaning "one who lives near a hawthorn bush." It was often given to people who lived near a hawthorn bush.
50. **Miller:** A surname of English origin, meaning "one who grinds grain." It was often given to people who worked as millers.
51. **Mitchell:** A surname of English origin, meaning "son of Michael." It was given to the offspring of a man named Michael.
52. **Moore:** A surname of English origin, meaning "moor" or "marsh." It was often given to people who lived near a moor or marsh.
53. **Morgan:** A surname of Welsh origin, meaning "sea defender" or "sea lord." It was often given to people who lived near the sea or who worked as sailors.
54. **Morris:** A surname of Welsh origin, meaning "dark" or "sea defender." It was often given to people who had dark hair or who lived near the sea.
55. **Murphy:** A surname of Irish origin, meaning "sea defender" or "sea warrior." It was often given to people who lived near the sea or who worked as sailors.
56. **Nelson:** A surname of English origin, meaning "son of Neil." It was given to the offspring of a man named Neil.
57. **Parker:** A surname of English origin, meaning "one who keeps a park." It was often given to people who worked as park keepers.
58. **Patterson:** A surname of English origin, meaning "son of Patrick." It was given to the offspring of a man named Patrick.
59. **Payne:** A surname of English origin, meaning "one who pays" or "one who is a servant." It was often given to people who worked as servants or who paid taxes.
60. **Perez:** A surname of Spanish origin, meaning "peregrine" or "pilgrim." It is a common surname in Spain and Latin America.
61. **Phillips:** A surname of Greek origin, meaning "lover of horses." It was given to people who loved horses or who worked with them.
62. **Powell:** A surname of Welsh origin, meaning "son of Howell." It was given to the offspring of a man named Howell.
63. **Price:** A surname of English origin, meaning "one who is valuable" or "one who is highly regarded." It was often given to people who held a position of importance.
64. **Reed:** A surname of English origin, meaning "one who lives near a reed bed." It was often given to people who lived near a reed bed.
65. **Richardson:** A surname of English origin, meaning "son of Richard." It was given to the offspring of a man named Richard.
66. **Robinson:** A surname of English origin, meaning "son of Robin." It was given to the offspring of a man named Robin.
67. **Rodriguez:** A surname of Spanish origin, meaning "son of Rodrigo." It is a common surname in Spain and Latin America.
68. **Rogers:** A surname of English origin, meaning "son of Roger." It was given to the offspring of a man named Roger.
69. **Ross:** A surname of Scottish origin, meaning "moor" or "heath." It was often given to people who lived near a moor or heath.
70. **Russell:** A surname of French origin, meaning "red." It was often given to people with red hair or a reddish complexion.
71. **Sanders:** A surname of English origin, meaning "son of Alexander." It was given to the offspring of a man named Alexander.
72. **Scott:** A surname of Scottish origin, meaning "from Scotland." It was given to people who originated from Scotland.
73. **Shaw:** A surname of English origin, meaning "wooded area" or "grove." It was often given to people who lived in a wooded area or grove.
74. **Shepherd:** A surname of English origin, meaning "one who tends sheep." It was often given to people who worked as shepherds.
75. **Simmons:** A surname of English origin, meaning "son of Simon." It was given to the offspring of a man named Simon.
76. **Smith:** A surname of English origin, meaning "one who works with metal." It was often given to people who worked as blacksmiths or other metal workers.
77. **Stewart:** A surname of Scottish origin, meaning "steward" or "one who manages." It was often given to people who worked as stewards or managers.
78. **Stone:** A surname of English origin, meaning "one who lives near a stone or rock." It was often given to people who lived near a stone or rock.
79. **Taylor:** A surname of English origin, meaning "one who cuts cloth." It was often given to people who worked as tailors.
80. **Thomas:** A surname of Aramaic origin, meaning "twin." It was often given to twins or to people who were born close together.
81. **Thompson:** A surname of English origin, meaning "son of Thomas." It was given to the offspring of a man named Thomas.
82. **Turner:** A surname of English origin, meaning "one who turns wood." It was often given to people who worked as wood turners.
83. **Walker:** A surname of English origin, meaning "one who walks." It was often given to people who traveled on foot or who worked as messengers.
84. **Ward:** A surname of English origin, meaning "one who guards" or "one who protects." It was often given to people who worked as guards or protectors.
85. **Washington:** A surname of English origin, meaning "one who lives near a wooded area." It was often given to people who lived near a wooded area.
86. **Watson:** A surname of English origin, meaning "son of Walter." It was given to the offspring of a man named Walter.
87. **Williams:** A surname of Welsh origin, meaning "son of William." It was given to the offspring of a man named William.
88. **Wilson:** A surname of English origin, meaning "son of Will" or "son of William." It was given to the offspring of a man named Will or William.
89. **Wright:** A surname of English origin, meaning "one who works with wood." It was often given to people who worked as carpenters or other wood workers.
90. **Young:** A surname of English origin, meaning "young" or "youthful." It was often given to the youngest son in a family.