Black Last Names Starting With A

This list of Black or African American last names beginning with A is based on the U.S. census in 2010.

We cover surnames where 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.

Black Or African American Surnames Starting With A

The U.S. census of 2010 included a question that asked if the person was Black.

Our details include the percentage of 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 1900 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.

We cover thirty-four names that that meet these criteria:

  • Over one thousand bearers in the 2010 U.S. census
  • At least 50% of respondents identified as black
  • At least one person of that name in the 1940 census or the 1910 U.S. census

The names are listed in order of how common they were in 2010.

Alston

The 2010 census had a total of 30,693 people with the last name Alston.

About 80% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 7,044 people named Alston were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 5,654 name holders were documented as black.

Historic figures

Charles Alston was a noted African American sculptor and painter. He was born in Charlotte, North Carolina in 1907. The family moved to Harlem, New York in 1915.

Charles studied fine arts at Columbia University. He went on to create illustrations for the New Yorker and Melody Maker.

During World War II, he delivered a series of drawings to aid the war effort. You can see some examples here.

His art was exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and other prestigious galleries. He also painted murals for the Harlem Hospital.

The civil rights movement was a huge influence on Alston’s work. His painting “Walking” was inspired by the Montgomery bus boycott.

Artis

The 2010 census had a total of 9,656 people with the last name Artis.

About 79% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 1,821 people named Artis were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 1,099 name holders were documented as black.

Historic figures named Artis

William Artis was a renowned sculptor who chiefly worked in clay.

Born in North Carolina in 1914, he moved to New York in his teens. He was part of the Harlem Renaissance, a movement that revitalized African American arts and music through the 1920s and 1930s.

After serving in the army during WWII, he studied at Syracuse University. While working as a sculptor, he also taught at several colleges until his retirement.

You can see one of his pieces here.

He died in 1977 leaving a fine legacy of students and works.

Antoine

The 2010 census had a total of 9,493 people with the last name Antoine.

About 77% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 669 people named Antoine were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 485 name holders were documented as black.

Historic figures named Antoine

George Washington Antoine was born in 1878 in Texas. He studied at Guadalupe College, one of the first African American colleges in the country.

He went on to study medicine at Meharry Medical College in Tennessee, the first medical school for African Americans in the southern states.

During WWI, Dr. Antoine was assigned as First Lieutenant and medical doctor to a black regiment sent to France on the SS President Grant.

The regiment, known as the 370th, was a combat infantry regiment. They served with French infantry divisions in many offensives through 1918.

After his discharge in 1919, Dr Antoine continued to practice in Houston from his home and at the Houston Negro Hospital.

Armstead

The 2010 census had a total of 7,919 people with the last name Armstead.

About 76% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 2,140 people named Armstead were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 1,686 name holders were documented as black.

Historic figures named Armstead

“Mary Armstead” was the alias used by Clarissa Davis when she escaped from slavery in Virginia in 1854.

Her story is documented in The Underground Railroad by William Still (published in 1872).

She dressed in men’s clothing and was smuggled aboard a steamship to Philadelphia. She was aided along the way by the local heroes who made the Underground Railroad possible.

You can read her letter of thanks to William Still here.  

Depiction of traveling to an underground railroad in Maryland

Abdi

The 2010 census had a total of 7,484 people with the last name Abdi.

About 90% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 3 people named Abdi were documented as black. However, there were no black holders of the name in the 1900 U.S. census.

Archie

The 2010 census had a total of 7,035 people with the last name Archie.

About 75% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 1,705 people named Archie were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 769 name holders were documented as black.

Alexis

The 2010 census had a total of 6,915 people with the last name Alexis.

About 76% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 292 people named Alexis were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 180 name holders were documented as black.

Alleyne

The 2010 census had a total of 4,163 people with the last name Alleyne.

About 86% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 317 people named Alleyne were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 2 name holders were documented as black.

Auguste

The 2010 census had a total of 3,981 people with the last name Auguste.

About 83% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 23 people named Auguste were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 110 name holders were documented as black.

Asare

The 2010 census had a total of 1,443 people with the last name Asare.

About 95% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 8 people named Asare were documented as black. However, there were no black holders of the name in the 1900 U.S. census.

Abron

The 2010 census had a total of 1,138 people with the last name Abron.

About 80% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 196 people named Abron were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 17 name holders were documented as black.

Ambroise

The 2010 census had a total of 1,103 people with the last name Ambroise.

About 90% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 15 people named Ambroise were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 56 name holders were documented as black.

Ancrum

The 2010 census had a total of 1,098 people with the last name Ancrum.

About 94% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 311 people named Ancrum were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 236 name holders were documented as black.

Adderley

The 2010 census had a total of 1,081 people with the last name Adderley.

About 74% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 119 people named Adderley were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 7 name holders were documented as black.

Amaker

The 2010 census had a total of 955 people with the last name Amaker.

About 75% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 272 people named Amaker were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 78 name holders were documented as black.

Adger

The 2010 census had a total of 922 people with the last name Adger.

About 83% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 292 people named Adger were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 220 name holders were documented as black.

Allah

The 2010 census had a total of 748 people with the last name Allah.

About 83% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 21 people named Allah were documented as black. However, there were no black holders of the name in the 1900 U.S. census.

Arvie

The 2010 census had a total of 726 people with the last name Arvie.

About 98% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 10 people named Arvie were documented as black. However, there were no black holders of the name in the 1900 U.S. census.

Acoff

The 2010 census had a total of 721 people with the last name Acoff.

About 93% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 163 people named Acoff were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 36 name holders were documented as black.

Armwood

The 2010 census had a total of 687 people with the last name Armwood.

About 91% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 202 people named Armwood were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 118 name holders were documented as black.

Alcindor

The 2010 census had a total of 651 people with the last name Alcindor.

About 91% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 3 people named Alcindor were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 11 name holders were documented as black.

Adderly

The 2010 census had a total of 623 people with the last name Adderly.

About 84% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 99 people named Adderly were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 3 name holders were documented as black.

Azor

The 2010 census had a total of 547 people with the last name Azor.

About 78% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 3 people named Azor were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 3 name holders were documented as black.

Adolphe

The 2010 census had a total of 547 people with the last name Adolphe.

About 86% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 4 people named Adolphe were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 18 name holders were documented as black.

Anglade

The 2010 census had a total of 525 people with the last name Anglade.

About 77% identified as Black or African American.

4 people named Anglade were documented as black in the 1900 U.S. census. But in 1940 there were no holders of the name documented as black.

Aristide

The 2010 census had a total of 509 people with the last name Aristide.

About 86% identified as Black or African American.

4 people named Aristide were documented as black in the 1900 U.S. census. But in 1940 there were no holders of the name documented as black.

Averhart

The 2010 census had a total of 499 people with the last name Averhart.

About 84% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 78 people named Averhart were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 88 name holders were documented as black.

Alridge

The 2010 census had a total of 482 people with the last name Alridge.

About 79% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 202 people named Alridge were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 109 name holders were documented as black.

Apollon

The 2010 census had a total of 468 people with the last name Apollon.

About 93% identified as Black or African American.

12 people named Apollon were documented as black in the 1900 U.S. census. But in 1940 there were no holders of the name documented as black.

Agu

The 2010 census had a total of 464 people with the last name Agu.

About 80% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 9 people named Agu were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 12 name holders were documented as black.

Ausby

The 2010 census had a total of 457 people with the last name Ausby.

About 92% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 125 people named Ausby were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 44 name holders were documented as black.

Adolphus

The 2010 census had a total of 421 people with the last name Adolphus.

About 74% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 28 people named Adolphus were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 36 name holders were documented as black.

Audain

The 2010 census had a total of 386 people with the last name Audain.

About 86% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 9 people named Audain were documented as black. However, there were no black holders of the name in the 1900 U.S. census.

Index Of Black Last Names

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Margaret created a family tree on a genealogy website in 2012. She purchased her first DNA kit in 2017. She created this website to share insights and how-to guides on DNA, genealogy, and family research.

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