Here are the most common Black or African American last names beginning with H in the United States.
Our list takes surnames from the 2010 census only if 50% or more holders declared that they were Black.
Of course, many African Americans have surnames that fall below this percentage. We simply use it as a cut-off for this list.
Details Behind The List
The U.S. census of 2010 included a question that asked if the person was Black or another ethnicity (or mix).
Our details include the black percentage in 2010 for each name. The census provides a percentage with two decimal points. We rounded it to a whole number.
We also checked the censuses of 1940 and 1910 for the number of people of each name who were documented as black.
This article uses the terms Black and African American interchangeably.
The public details from the 2010 census do not include nationality so our numbers cannot be exact. Take them as a guide.
Top 30 Black Surnames Beginning With H
These are the most common black or African American last names starting with H in the 2010 U.S. census.
The surnames are listed below in order of how many people bear the name.
You may be surprised not to find “Harris” here because it is a very common name. But it isn’t at least 50% black. Our sister websites has an in-depth look at the black history of the Harris surname.
Heard
The 2010 census had a total of 23,408 people with the last name Heard.
About 54% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 4,745 people named Heard were documented as black.
In the 1910 U.S. census, 3,192 people of this name were documented as black.
Historic figures
William Heard was born in 1850 in Elbert County, Georgia.
After emancipation became law in 1863, Heard paid a white schoolboy for reading lessons from his earnings as a plowboy. Eventually he attended school and went on to a university degree.
He joined the African Methodist Episcopal Church and in 1882 and was elected bishop in 1908. He campaigned for better conditions and services for black people in many areas.
Heard was appointed as Consul General to Liberia in 1895. He died in Philadelphia in 1937. His autobiography is available online here.
Hairston
The 2010 census had a total of 16,090 people with the last name Hairston.
About 80% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 2,314 people named Hairston were documented as black.
In the 1910 U.S. census, 2,035 people of this name were documented as black.
Historic figures
Jester Hairston was born in 1901 in North Carolina. He sang in several choirs and one of the organists, Mrs. Kidder, became his benefactor. She funded his study of music at Tufts University.
Hairston went on to compose or arrange spirituals for both choirs and for Hollywood. He drew heavily from the spirituals he heard in his childhood from his grandmother singing with her friends.
Perhaps his most famous song is “Mary’s Boy Child”, which has worldwide popularity as a Christmas carol. Harry Belafonte was the first to make it a hit record in 1957.
Hollins
The 2010 census had a total of 10,213 people with the last name Hollins.
About 73% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 2,377 people named Hollins were documented as black.
In the 1910 U.S. census, 1,230 people of this name were documented as black.
Haile
The 2010 census had a total of 6,663 people with the last name Haile.
About 52% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 255 people named Haile were documented as black.
In the 1910 U.S. census, 143 people of this name were documented as black.
Hatchett
The 2010 census had a total of 5,726 people with the last name Hatchett.
About 51% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 1,071 people named Hatchett were documented as black.
In the 1910 U.S. census, 571 people of this name were documented as black.
Hardaway
The 2010 census had a total of 5,163 people with the last name Hardaway.
About 63% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 953 people named Hardaway were documented as black.
In the 1910 U.S. census, 515 people of this name were documented as black.
Heyward
The 2010 census had a total of 4,867 people with the last name Heyward.
About 82% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 1,421 people named Heyward were documented as black.
In the 1910 U.S. census, 910 people of this name were documented as black.
Hardeman
The 2010 census had a total of 4,565 people with the last name Hardeman.
About 51% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 882 people named Hardeman were documented as black.
In the 1910 U.S. census, 544 people of this name were documented as black.
Haughton
The 2010 census had a total of 3,577 people with the last name Haughton.
About 57% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 207 people named Haughton were documented as black.
In the 1910 U.S. census, 239 people of this name were documented as black.
Hartfield
The 2010 census had a total of 3,394 people with the last name Hartfield.
About 52% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 691 people named Hartfield were documented as black.
In the 1910 U.S. census, 409 people of this name were documented as black.
Hagans
The 2010 census had a total of 3,316 people with the last name Hagans.
About 53% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 357 people named Hagans were documented as black.
In the 1910 U.S. census, 429 people of this name were documented as black.
Howze
The 2010 census had a total of 3,263 people with the last name Howze.
About 65% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 407 people named Howze were documented as black.
In the 1910 U.S. census, 370 people of this name were documented as black.
Hughley
The 2010 census had a total of 3,035 people with the last name Hughley.
About 77% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 507 people named Hughley were documented as black.
In the 1910 U.S. census, 153 people of this name were documented as black.
Harvin
The 2010 census had a total of 2,793 people with the last name Harvin.
About 65% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 618 people named Harvin were documented as black.
In the 1910 U.S. census, 310 people of this name were documented as black.
Hankerson
The 2010 census had a total of 2,561 people with the last name Hankerson.
About 85% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 675 people named Hankerson were documented as black.
In the 1910 U.S. census, 293 people of this name were documented as black.
Hollie
The 2010 census had a total of 2,351 people with the last name Hollie.
About 62% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 325 people named Hollie were documented as black.
In the 1910 U.S. census, 204 people of this name were documented as black.
Honore
The 2010 census had a total of 2,191 people with the last name Honore.
About 72% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 255 people named Honore were documented as black.
In the 1910 U.S. census, 88 people of this name were documented as black.
Headen
The 2010 census had a total of 2,066 people with the last name Headen.
About 65% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 460 people named Headen were documented as black.
In the 1910 U.S. census, 402 people of this name were documented as black.
Hearns
The 2010 census had a total of 1,923 people with the last name Hearns.
About 68% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 307 people named Hearns were documented as black.
In the 1910 U.S. census, 149 people of this name were documented as black.
Hibbler
The 2010 census had a total of 1,913 people with the last name Hibbler.
About 71% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 284 people named Hibbler were documented as black.
In the 1910 U.S. census, 257 people of this name were documented as black.
Holsey
The 2010 census had a total of 1,909 people with the last name Holsey.
About 65% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 336 people named Holsey were documented as black.
In the 1910 U.S. census, 252 people of this name were documented as black.
Hardrick
The 2010 census had a total of 1,843 people with the last name Hardrick.
About 80% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 379 people named Hardrick were documented as black.
In the 1910 U.S. census, 279 people of this name were documented as black.
Horace
The 2010 census had a total of 1,750 people with the last name Horace.
About 75% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 494 people named Horace were documented as black.
In the 1910 U.S. census, 154 people of this name were documented as black.
Hilaire
The 2010 census had a total of 1,682 people with the last name Hilaire.
About 85% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 39 people named Hilaire were documented as black.
In the 1910 U.S. census, 30 people of this name were documented as black.
Haggins
The 2010 census had a total of 1,662 people with the last name Haggins.
About 75% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 237 people named Haggins were documented as black.
In the 1910 U.S. census, 132 people of this name were documented as black.
Hunte
The 2010 census had a total of 1,628 people with the last name Hunte.
About 74% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 55 people named Hunte were documented as black.
In the 1910 U.S. census, 18 people of this name were documented as black.
Haji
The 2010 census had a total of 1,608 people with the last name Haji.
About 62% identified as Black or African American.
Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1900 or 1940 censuses.
Hardnett
The 2010 census had a total of 1,570 people with the last name Hardnett.
About 92% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 263 people named Hardnett were documented as black.
In the 1910 U.S. census, 200 people of this name were documented as black.
Hyppolite
The 2010 census had a total of 1,567 people with the last name Hyppolite.
About 92% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, one person named Hyppolite were documented as black. William was born in 1897 in the West Indies.
There were no black holders of the name in the 1910 U.S. census.
Haye
The 2010 census had a total of 1,558 people with the last name Haye.
About 57% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 74 people named Haye were documented as black.
In the 1910 U.S. census, 46 people of this name were documented as black.
More Black Last Names Beginning With H
These names had over twelve hundred bearers in the 2010 U.S. census.
| Last Name | Total | % Black |
| Hodo | 1,508 | 51% |
| Huguley | 1,491 | 52% |
| Hayles | 1,479 | 50% |
| Horsey | 1,475 | 55% |
| Hadnot | 1,443 | 84% |
| Haith | 1,430 | 54% |
| Harewood | 1,395 | 75% |
| Haymon | 1,365 | 59% |
| Hogans | 1,324 | 75% |
| Holness | 1,286 | 79% |
| Hickmon | 1,215 | 71% |
| Harriott | 1,213 | 58% |
Over one thousand bearers
| Last Name | Total | % Black |
| Hailu | 1,164 | 95% |
| Harbor | 1,146 | 50% |
| Hobdy | 1,101 | 56% |
| Haliburton | 1,092 | 67% |
| Hamler | 1,086 | 51% |
| Hopes | 1,073 | 52% |
| Hagos | 1,070 | 93% |
| Hillsman | 1,070 | 58% |
| Hoyte | 1,069 | 74% |
