Common African American Last Names: A Comprehensive Guide

This comprehensive list explores common African American last names, tracing their origins, historical significance, and cultural influence. From traditional surnames passed down through generations to names adopted during the slave trade and Civil Rights era, these names offer a glimpse into the rich tapestry of African American heritage. Explore the meanings behind these names and discover the stories they carry.
1. **Anderson:** Meaning "son of Andrew," this name is of Scottish origin and was common among enslaved Africans brought to the Americas.
2. **Baker:** Meaning "one who bakes," this occupational surname is of English origin and was often given to enslaved Africans who worked as bakers.
3. **Bell:** Meaning "beautiful," this name is of English origin and was a common surname among African Americans.
4. **Bennett:** Meaning "son of Benedict," this name is of English origin and was a common surname among African Americans.
5. **Black:** This surname is of English origin and was given to people with dark skin, often used for enslaved Africans.
6. **Brown:** Meaning "brown," this name is of English origin and was a common surname among African Americans.
7. **Butler:** Meaning "servant," this occupational surname is of English origin and was often given to enslaved Africans who worked as servants.
8. **Campbell:** Meaning "crooked field," this name is of Scottish origin and was common among enslaved Africans brought to the Americas.
9. **Carter:** Meaning "one who carries goods," this occupational surname is of English origin and was often given to enslaved Africans who worked as carriers.
10. **Clark:** Meaning "scribe," this occupational surname is of English origin and was often given to enslaved Africans who worked as scribes.
11. **Coleman:** Meaning "coalman," this occupational surname is of English origin and was often given to enslaved Africans who worked in coal mines.
12. **Collins:** Meaning "son of Colin," this name is of Scottish origin and was common among enslaved Africans brought to the Americas.
13. **Cook:** Meaning "one who cooks," this occupational surname is of English origin and was often given to enslaved Africans who worked as cooks.
14. **Davis:** Meaning "son of David," this name is of Welsh origin and was common among enslaved Africans brought to the Americas.
15. **Edwards:** Meaning "son of Edward," this name is of English origin and was a common surname among African Americans.
16. **Evans:** Meaning "son of Evan," this name is of Welsh origin and was common among enslaved Africans brought to the Americas.
17. **Fisher:** Meaning "one who catches fish," this occupational surname is of English origin and was often given to enslaved Africans who worked as fishermen.
18. **Foster:** Meaning "foster father," this name is of English origin and was a common surname among African Americans.
19. **Franklin:** Meaning "free landowner," this name is of English origin and was a common surname among African Americans.
20. **Garcia:** Meaning "bear," this name is of Spanish origin and was common among enslaved Africans brought to the Americas.
21. **Gibson:** Meaning "son of Gilbert," this name is of English origin and was a common surname among African Americans.
22. **Gilliam:** Meaning "son of William," this name is of French origin and was common among enslaved Africans brought to the Americas.
23. **Gonzalez:** Meaning "son of Gonzalo," this name is of Spanish origin and was common among enslaved Africans brought to the Americas.
24. **Gray:** Meaning "grey," this name is of English origin and was a common surname among African Americans.
25. **Green:** Meaning "green," this name is of English origin and was a common surname among African Americans.
26. **Hall:** Meaning "hall," this name is of English origin and was a common surname among African Americans.
27. **Harris:** Meaning "son of Harry," this name is of English origin and was a common surname among African Americans.
28. **Harrison:** Meaning "son of Harry," this name is of English origin and was a common surname among African Americans.
29. **Hawkins:** Meaning "son of Hawk," this name is of English origin and was a common surname among African Americans.
30. **Henderson:** Meaning "son of Henry," this name is of English origin and was a common surname among African Americans.
31. **Henry:** Meaning "ruler of the house," this name is of German origin and was common among enslaved Africans brought to the Americas.
32. **Hernandez:** Meaning "son of Hernando," this name is of Spanish origin and was common among enslaved Africans brought to the Americas.
33. **Hill:** Meaning "hill," this name is of English origin and was a common surname among African Americans.
34. **Jackson:** Meaning "son of Jack," this name is of English origin and was a common surname among African Americans.
35. **James:** Meaning "supplanter," this name is of Hebrew origin and was common among enslaved Africans brought to the Americas.
36. **Jenkins:** Meaning "son of John," this name is of Welsh origin and was common among enslaved Africans brought to the Americas.
37. **Johnson:** Meaning "son of John," this name is of English origin and was a common surname among African Americans.
38. **Jones:** Meaning "son of John," this name is of Welsh origin and was common among enslaved Africans brought to the Americas.
39. **Jordan:** Meaning "to descend," this name is of Hebrew origin and was common among enslaved Africans brought to the Americas.
40. **Kelly:** Meaning "warrior," this name is of Irish origin and was common among enslaved Africans brought to the Americas.
41. **Kennedy:** Meaning "descendant of Conn," this name is of Irish origin and was common among enslaved Africans brought to the Americas.
42. **King:** Meaning "ruler," this name is of English origin and was a common surname among African Americans.
43. **Lewis:** Meaning "famous warrior," this name is of French origin and was common among enslaved Africans brought to the Americas.
44. **Little:** Meaning "small," this name is of English origin and was a common surname among African Americans.
45. **Lopez:** Meaning "wolf," this name is of Spanish origin and was common among enslaved Africans brought to the Americas.
46. **Lucas:** Meaning "bringer of light," this name is of Latin origin and was common among enslaved Africans brought to the Americas.
47. **Martin:** Meaning "warlike," this name is of Latin origin and was common among enslaved Africans brought to the Americas.
48. **Martinez:** Meaning "son of Martin," this name is of Spanish origin and was common among enslaved Africans brought to the Americas.
49. **Mason:** Meaning "stone worker," this occupational surname is of English origin and was often given to enslaved Africans who worked as masons.
50. **Matthews:** Meaning "gift of God," this name is of Hebrew origin and was common among enslaved Africans brought to the Americas.
51. **May:** Meaning "powerful," this name is of English origin and was a common surname among African Americans.
52. **McDaniel:** Meaning "son of Daniel," this name is of Irish origin and was common among enslaved Africans brought to the Americas.
53. **Miller:** Meaning "one who grinds grain," this occupational surname is of English origin and was often given to enslaved Africans who worked as millers.
54. **Mitchell:** Meaning "son of Michael," this name is of English origin and was a common surname among African Americans.
55. **Moore:** Meaning "moor," this name is of English origin and was a common surname among African Americans.
56. **Morgan:** Meaning "sea warrior," this name is of Welsh origin and was common among enslaved Africans brought to the Americas.
57. **Morris:** Meaning "dark-skinned," this name is of Welsh origin and was common among enslaved Africans brought to the Americas.
58. **Murphy:** Meaning "sea warrior," this name is of Irish origin and was common among enslaved Africans brought to the Americas.
59. **Nelson:** Meaning "son of Neil," this name is of English origin and was a common surname among African Americans.
60. **Nichols:** Meaning "son of Nicholas," this name is of Greek origin and was common among enslaved Africans brought to the Americas.
61. **Owen:** Meaning "noble," this name is of Welsh origin and was common among enslaved Africans brought to the Americas.
62. **Parker:** Meaning "park keeper," this occupational surname is of English origin and was often given to enslaved Africans who worked as park keepers.
63. **Patterson:** Meaning "son of Patrick," this name is of Irish origin and was common among enslaved Africans brought to the Americas.
64. **Payne:** Meaning "pain," this name is of French origin and was common among enslaved Africans brought to the Americas.
65. **Pearson:** Meaning "son of Piers," this name is of English origin and was a common surname among African Americans.
66. **Perry:** Meaning "pear tree," this name is of English origin and was a common surname among African Americans.
67. **Phillips:** Meaning "son of Philip," this name is of Greek origin and was common among enslaved Africans brought to the Americas.
68. **Powell:** Meaning "valley," this name is of Welsh origin and was common among enslaved Africans brought to the Americas.
69. **Price:** Meaning "value," this name is of English origin and was a common surname among African Americans.
70. **Reed:** Meaning "reed," this name is of English origin and was a common surname among African Americans.
71. **Richardson:** Meaning "son of Richard," this name is of German origin and was common among enslaved Africans brought to the Americas.
72. **Roberts:** Meaning "son of Robert," this name is of German origin and was common among enslaved Africans brought to the Americas.
73. **Robinson:** Meaning "son of Robin," this name is of English origin and was a common surname among African Americans.
74. **Rodriguez:** Meaning "son of Rodrigo," this name is of Spanish origin and was common among enslaved Africans brought to the Americas.
75. **Rogers:** Meaning "son of Roger," this name is of German origin and was common among enslaved Africans brought to the Americas.
76. **Ross:** Meaning "moor," this name is of Scottish origin and was common among enslaved Africans brought to the Americas.
77. **Russell:** Meaning "red-haired," this name is of French origin and was common among enslaved Africans brought to the Americas.
78. **Sanders:** Meaning "son of Alexander," this name is of Greek origin and was common among enslaved Africans brought to the Americas.
79. **Scott:** Meaning "from Scotland," this name is of Scottish origin and was common among enslaved Africans brought to the Americas.
80. **Shaw:** Meaning "wood," this name is of English origin and was a common surname among African Americans.
81. **Shepherd:** Meaning "one who tends sheep," this occupational surname is of English origin and was often given to enslaved Africans who worked as shepherds.
82. **Simmons:** Meaning "son of Simon," this name is of Hebrew origin and was common among enslaved Africans brought to the Americas.
83. **Smith:** Meaning "blacksmith," this occupational surname is of English origin and was often given to enslaved Africans who worked as blacksmiths.
84. **Stewart:** Meaning "steward," this occupational surname is of Scottish origin and was often given to enslaved Africans who worked as stewards.
85. **Taylor:** Meaning "one who cuts cloth," this occupational surname is of English origin and was often given to enslaved Africans who worked as tailors.
86. **Thomas:** Meaning "twin," this name is of Aramaic origin and was common among enslaved Africans brought to the Americas.
87. **Thompson:** Meaning "son of Thomas," this name is of English origin and was a common surname among African Americans.
88. **Turner:** Meaning "one who turns," this occupational surname is of English origin and was often given to enslaved Africans who worked as turners.
89. **Walker:** Meaning "one who walks," this occupational surname is of English origin and was often given to enslaved Africans who worked as walkers.
90. **Ward:** Meaning "guard," this name is of English origin and was a common surname among African Americans.
91. **Washington:** Meaning "from the settlement of Washington," this name is of English origin and was a common surname among African Americans.
92. **Watson:** Meaning "son of Walter," this name is of German origin and was common among enslaved Africans brought to the Americas.
93. **Williams:** Meaning "son of William," this name is of German origin and was common among enslaved Africans brought to the Americas.
94. **Wilson:** Meaning "son of William," this name is of English origin and was a common surname among African Americans.
95. **Wright:** Meaning "one who makes things," this occupational surname is of English origin and was often given to enslaved Africans who worked as craftsmen.
96. **Young:** Meaning "young," this name is of English origin and was a common surname among African Americans.
97. **Adams:** Meaning "son of Adam," this name is of Hebrew origin and was common among enslaved Africans brought to the Americas.
98. **Allen:** Meaning "handsome," this name is of English origin and was a common surname among African Americans.
99. **Bailey:** Meaning "bailiff," this occupational surname is of English origin and was often given to enslaved Africans who worked as bailiffs.
100. **Brooks:** Meaning "brook," this name is of English origin and was a common surname among African Americans.