Here are the most common Black or African American last names beginning with I 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 I
These were the most common black and African American last names in 2010.
The names are listed below in order of how common they are.
Ivory
The 2010 census had a total of 7,201 people with the last name Ivory.
About 73% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 1,732 people named Ivory were documented as black.
In the 1910 U.S. census, 761 people of this name were documented as black.
Historic figures
Lacey Ivory was born in 1958 in Kansas City. Growing up in public housing, he joined the army and availed of all education opportunities available.
Ivory completed a bachelor’s degree and masters alongside serving in Germany. The hard-working Missourian climbed the ranks to Sergeant Major.
His last post was to the Pentagon where he worked within the Manpower and Reserve Affairs decision. Ivory was at his office on September 11, 2001. He was killed in the terrorist attack on the Pentagon.
Sergeant Major Lacey Ivory was posthumously awarded the Legion of Merit and the Purple Heart. He is buried at Arlington Cemetery. His obituary is in the Washington Post.
Ivery
The 2010 census had a total of 2,457 people with the last name Ivery.
Genealogy tip: this name and “Ivory” are spelling variants. If you are looking up records for family research, be sure to use both variations.
About 85% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 467 people named Ivery were documented as black.
In the 1910 U.S. census, 324 people of this name were documented as black.
Innocent
The 2010 census had a total of 1,618 people with the last name Innocent.
About 84% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, two people named Innocent were documented as black. One was born in Mississippi and one in New York.
There were no black holders of the name in the 1910 U.S. census.
Inniss
The 2010 census had a total of 1,360 people with the last name Inniss.
About 70% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 131 people named Inniss were documented as black.
In the 1910 U.S. census, 14 people of this name were documented as black.
Island
The 2010 census had a total of 975 people with the last name Island.
About 63% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 193 people named Island were documented as black.
In the 1910 U.S. census, 147 people of this name were documented as black.
Idris
The 2010 census had a total of 964 people with the last name Idris.
About 63% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, three people named Idris were documented as black. One was born in Puerto Rico.
There were no black holders of the name in the 1910 U.S. census.
Ibe
The 2010 census had a total of 946 people with the last name Ibe.
About 59% identified as Black or African American.
Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1910 or 1940 censuses.
Isreal
The 2010 census had a total of 919 people with the last name Isreal.
About 61% identified as Black or African American.
102 people named Isreal were documented as black in the 1910 U.S. census. But in 1940 there were no holders of the name documented as black.
Ifill
The 2010 census had a total of 917 people with the last name Ifill.
About 84% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 69 people named Ifill were documented as black.
In the 1910 U.S. census, four people of this name were documented as black. Two were born in the Bahamas.
Izzard
The 2010 census had a total of 882 people with the last name Izzard.
About 59% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 178 people named Izzard were documented as black.
In the 1910 U.S. census, 40 people of this name were documented as black.
Idowu
The 2010 census had a total of 633 people with the last name Idowu.
About 95% identified as Black or African American.
Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1910 or 1940 censuses.
Isaiah
The 2010 census had a total of 631 people with the last name Isaiah.
About 71% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 221 people named Isaiah were documented as black.
In the 1910 U.S. census, 42 people of this name were documented as black.
Igwe
The 2010 census had a total of 608 people with the last name Igwe.
About 93% identified as Black or African American.
Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1910 or 1940 censuses.
Isidore
The 2010 census had a total of 599 people with the last name Isidore.
About 77% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 41 people named Isidore were documented as black.
In the 1910 U.S. census, 44 people of this name were documented as black.
Isse
The 2010 census had a total of 570 people with the last name Isse.
About 89% identified as Black or African American.
Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1910 or 1940 censuses.
Inyang
The 2010 census had a total of 429 people with the last name Inyang.
About 95% identified as Black or African American.
Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1910 or 1940 censuses.
Isby
The 2010 census had a total of 313 people with the last name Isby.
About 87% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 46 people named Isby were documented as black.
In the 1910 U.S. census, 66 people of this name were documented as black.
Igbokwe
The 2010 census had a total of 271 people with the last name Igbokwe.
About 95% identified as Black or African American.
Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1910 or 1940 censuses.
Ings
The 2010 census had a total of 267 people with the last name Ings.
About 50% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 68 people named Ings were documented as black.
In the 1910 U.S. census, 25 people of this name were documented as black.
Isma
The 2010 census had a total of 259 people with the last name Isma.
About 88% identified as Black or African American.
Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1910 or 1940 censuses.
Issak
The 2010 census had a total of 242 people with the last name Issak.
About 66% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, one person named Issak was documented as black. Julius was born in 1903 in North Dakota.
However, there were no black holders of the name in the 1910 U.S. census. You’d think that the Julius we mentioned should appear, but he seems to have been elsewhere.
Ibekwe
The 2010 census had a total of 232 people with the last name Ibekwe.
About 96% identified as Black or African American.
Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1910 or 1940 censuses.
Ingleton
The 2010 census had a total of 231 people with the last name Ingleton.
About 71% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, nine people named Ingleton were documented as black. There was exactly the same number in 1910.
Iheanacho
The 2010 census had a total of 216 people with the last name Iheanacho.
About 98% identified as Black or African American.
Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1910 or 1940 censuses.
Idlebird
The 2010 census had a total of 210 people with the last name Idlebird.
About 95% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 27 people named Idlebird were documented as black.
In the 1910 U.S. census, 4 people of this name were documented as black. This was one family with all members born and living in Texas.
Ibeh
The 2010 census had a total of 203 people with the last name Ibeh.
About 96% identified as Black or African American.
Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1910 or 1940 censuses.
Isme
The 2010 census had a total of 202 people with the last name Isme.
About 93% identified as Black or African American.
Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1910 or 1940 censuses.
Isome
The 2010 census had a total of 200 people with the last name Isome.
About 77% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 20 people named Isome were documented as black.
In the 1910 U.S. census, one person of this name were documented as black. This man (Jeff) was born in Kentucky.
Ishmon
The 2010 census had a total of 191 people with the last name Ishmon.
About 91% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 41 people named Ishmon were documented as black.
In the 1910 U.S. census, 2 people of this name were documented as black. One was born in Georgia and the other in Tennessee.
Ilunga
The 2010 census had a total of 180 people with the last name Ilunga.
About 93% identified as Black or African American.
Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1910 or 1940 censuses.
