Common Black Last Names: A Comprehensive Guide

Looking for a comprehensive list of common Black last names? This guide delves into the origins, meanings, and cultural significance of these surnames, providing you with a detailed understanding of their rich history and heritage. From traditional African names to those adopted during the transatlantic slave trade, this list offers insights into the diverse tapestry of Black surnames in the United States and beyond.
1. **Anderson:** Son of Andrew, a common name of Scottish and English origin.
2. **Bailey:** A common name of English origin meaning "bailiff" or "steward."
3. **Baker:** A common name of English origin referring to someone who bakes bread.
4. **Barnes:** A name of English origin, derived from the place name Barnes, which itself means "barley farm."
5. **Bell:** A name of English origin meaning "beautiful" or "handsome."
6. **Bennett:** A common name of English origin meaning "blessed."
7. **Black:** A name of English origin referring to someone with dark hair or complexion.
8. **Blake:** A common name of English origin meaning "dark."
9. **Brown:** A name of English origin referring to someone with brown hair or complexion.
10. **Bryant:** A name of English origin meaning "bright" or "clear."
11. **Butler:** A name of French origin referring to someone who works as a steward or servant.
12. **Campbell:** A name of Scottish origin meaning "crooked mouth."
13. **Carter:** A name of English origin referring to someone who drives a cart.
14. **Clark:** A name of English origin referring to someone who works as a scribe or clerk.
15. **Coleman:** A name of English origin meaning "dove."
16. **Collins:** A name of English origin meaning "descendant of Colin."
17. **Cook:** A name of English origin referring to someone who prepares food.
18. **Cooper:** A name of English origin referring to someone who makes barrels or casks.
19. **Davis:** A common name of Welsh origin meaning "son of David."
20. **Edwards:** A common name of English origin meaning "son of Edward."
21. **Evans:** A common name of Welsh origin meaning "son of Evan."
22. **Fisher:** A name of English origin referring to someone who fishes.
23. **Foster:** A name of English origin meaning "foster parent."
24. **Franklin:** A common name of English origin meaning "free landowner."
25. **Gardner:** A name of English origin referring to someone who works as a gardener.
26. **Gibson:** A name of English origin meaning "son of Gilbert."
27. **Gordon:** A name of Scottish origin meaning "large valley."
28. **Gray:** A common name of English origin meaning "gray."
29. **Green:** A common name of English origin meaning "green."
30. **Hall:** A common name of English origin meaning "dwelling."
31. **Harris:** A name of English origin meaning "son of Harry."
32. **Harrison:** A common name of English origin meaning "son of Henry."
33. **Harvey:** A common name of English origin meaning "warlike."
34. **Hawkins:** A name of English origin meaning "son of Hawk."
35. **Hayes:** A name of English origin meaning "hedge."
36. **Henderson:** A common name of Scottish origin meaning "son of Henry."
37. **Henry:** A name of German origin meaning "ruler of the home."
38. **Hill:** A common name of English origin meaning "hill."
39. **Holland:** A name of English origin referring to the Netherlands.
40. **Howard:** A common name of English origin meaning "brave protector."
41. **Jackson:** A common name of English origin meaning "son of Jack."
42. **James:** A common name of Hebrew origin meaning "supplanter."
43. **Johnson:** A common name of English origin meaning "son of John."
44. **Jones:** A common name of Welsh origin meaning "son of John."
45. **Jordan:** A common name of Hebrew origin meaning "to descend" or "to flow down."
46. **King:** A common name of English origin referring to someone who rules a kingdom.
47. **Lewis:** A common name of Welsh origin meaning "famous warrior."
48. **Lee:** A common name of English origin meaning "meadow."
49. **Lincoln:** A common name of English origin referring to the city of Lincoln, England.
50. **Little:** A common name of English origin meaning "small."
51. **Lloyd:** A common name of Welsh origin meaning "gray."
52. **Long:** A common name of English origin meaning "long."
53. **Lopez:** A common name of Spanish origin meaning "wolf."
54. **Love:** A common name of English origin meaning "love."
55. **Lucas:** A common name of Latin origin meaning "light."
56. **Lyons:** A common name of French origin referring to the city of Lyon.
57. **Martin:** A common name of Latin origin meaning "warlike."
58. **Mason:** A common name of English origin referring to someone who works with stone.
59. **Matthews:** A common name of English origin meaning "son of Matthew."
60. **Maxwell:** A common name of Scottish origin meaning "great stream."
61. **McBride:** A common name of Irish origin meaning "son of Brian."
62. **McCoy:** A common name of Irish origin meaning "son of Hugh."
63. **McDaniel:** A common name of Irish origin meaning "son of Daniel."
64. **McDonald:** A common name of Irish origin meaning "son of Donald."
65. **McGee:** A common name of Irish origin meaning "son of Hugh."
66. **McKinney:** A common name of Irish origin meaning "son of Kenneth."
67. **Miller:** A common name of English origin referring to someone who grinds grain.
68. **Mitchell:** A common name of English origin meaning "son of Michael."
69. **Moore:** A common name of English origin meaning "moor."
70. **Morgan:** A common name of Welsh origin meaning "sea warrior."
71. **Morris:** A common name of Welsh origin meaning "sea warrior."
72. **Murphy:** A common name of Irish origin meaning "sea warrior."
73. **Murray:** A common name of Scottish origin meaning "sea warrior."
74. **Nelson:** A common name of English origin meaning "son of Neil."
75. **Newman:** A common name of English origin meaning "new man."
76. **Nichols:** A common name of English origin meaning "son of Nicholas."
77. **Nixon:** A common name of English origin meaning "son of Nicholas."
78. **Oliver:** A common name of Latin origin meaning "olive tree."
79. **Owens:** A common name of Welsh origin meaning "son of Owen."
80. **Parker:** A common name of English origin referring to someone who keeps or guards a park.
81. **Patterson:** A common name of English origin meaning "son of Patrick."
82. **Payne:** A common name of English origin meaning "pagan."
83. **Pearson:** A common name of English origin meaning "son of Peter."
84. **Phillips:** A common name of English origin meaning "son of Philip."
85. **Powell:** A common name of Welsh origin meaning "son of Howell."
86. **Price:** A common name of Welsh origin meaning "priest."
87. **Reed:** A common name of English origin meaning "reed."
88. **Reese:** A common name of Welsh origin meaning "ardor."
89. **Richardson:** A common name of English origin meaning "son of Richard."
90. **Roberts:** A common name of English origin meaning "son of Robert."
91. **Robinson:** A common name of English origin meaning "son of Robin."
92. **Rogers:** A common name of English origin meaning "son of Roger."
93. **Ross:** A common name of Scottish origin meaning "promontory."
94. **Russell:** A common name of French origin meaning "red."
95. **Sanders:** A common name of English origin meaning "son of Alexander."
96. **Scott:** A common name of Scottish origin meaning "Scot."
97. **Shaw:** A common name of English origin meaning "wood."
98. **Shepherd:** A common name of English origin referring to someone who herds sheep.
99. **Simmons:** A common name of English origin meaning "son of Simon."
100. **Smith:** A common name of English origin referring to someone who works with metal.
101. **Stewart:** A common name of Scottish origin meaning "steward."
102. **Stone:** A common name of English origin meaning "stone."
103. **Taylor:** A common name of English origin referring to someone who cuts cloth.
104. **Thomas:** A common name of Aramaic origin meaning "twin."
105. **Thompson:** A common name of English origin meaning "son of Thomas."
106. **Turner:** A common name of English origin referring to someone who works with wood.
107. **Walker:** A common name of English origin referring to someone who walks.
108. **Ward:** A common name of English origin meaning "guardian."
109. **Washington:** A common name of English origin meaning "settlement near a spring."
110. **Watson:** A common name of English origin meaning "son of Walter."
111. **Williams:** A common name of Welsh origin meaning "son of William."
112. **Wilson:** A common name of English origin meaning "son of William."
113. **Wright:** A common name of English origin meaning "wright" or "craftsman."
114. **Young:** A common name of English origin meaning "young."