Here are the most common Black or African American last names beginning with K 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 Surnames Beginning With K
These black and African American names have the highest number of entries in the 2010 U.S. census.
The surnames are listed below in order of how common they are.
Kamara
The 2010 census had a total of 6,288 people with the last name Kamara.
About 93% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, one person named Kamara was documented as black. That was Mamie Kamara, born in Tennessee in 1898 and living in Chicago.
In the 1900 U.S. census, there was also one person documented as black. This person is listed as first name Kamara as well, and was born in Hawaii.
It’s a very common name in Sierra Leone and Liberia.
Kirksey
The 2010 census had a total of 5,654 people with the last name Kirksey.
About 53% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 1,013 people named Kirksey were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 504 people of this name were documented as black.
Historic figures
Henry Kirksey was born in 1915 in Lee County, Mississippi. As a young man, he moved to St Louis.
After military service, he graduated in 1947 cum laude from North Carolina with a degree in economics. Through his life, Kirksey ran for many political positions. He was elected as a senator for two terms.
He could be a polarizing figure but campaigned with zeal for reforming political districts in Mississippi. His successful lawsuit led to the eventual elections of many African Americans to public office.
Kyles
The 2010 census had a total of 4,911 people with the last name Kyles.
About 68% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 755 people named Kyles were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 310 people of this name were documented as black.
Historic figures
Samuel Billy Kyles was born in 1934 in Shelby, Mississippi. He founded a Baptist Church in Memphis and campaigned tirelessly for civil rights.
He was arrested for refusing to sit at the back of a segregated bus in the early 1960s. He sent his daughter to one of the first integrated schools in Memphis. Kyles also led the integration of restaurants and public spaces in the city.
In 1968, Kyles arranged for Dr. Martin Luther King to visit Memphis to support a black workers’ strike. Kyles went to King’s motel to collect him for dinner.
When they walked out onto the second floor balcony, Dr. King was assassinated by a sniper. Kyles later said that he had asked himself why he had been present until he got an answer:
Over the years, God revealed to me why I was there Crucifixions have to have witnesses...You can kill the dreamer. But you can’t kill the dream.
Obituary, New York Times
Keels
The 2010 census had a total of 2,843 people with the last name Keels.
About 54% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 564 people named Keels were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 343 people of this name were documented as black.
Kearse
The 2010 census had a total of 2,583 people with the last name Kearse.
About 70% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 557 people named Kearse were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 298 people of this name were documented as black.
Kaba
The 2010 census had a total of 1,991 people with the last name Kaba.
About 70% identified as Black or African American.
Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1900 or 1940 censuses.
Keitt
The 2010 census had a total of 1,765 people with the last name Keitt.
About 78% identified as Black or African American.
111 people named Keitt were documented as black in the 1900 U.S. census. But in 1940 there were no holders of the name documented as black.
Koroma
The 2010 census had a total of 1,733 people with the last name Koroma.
About 97% identified as Black or African American.
Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1900 or 1940 censuses.
Kendricks
The 2010 census had a total of 1,704 people with the last name Kendricks.
About 73% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 417 people named Kendricks were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 75 people of this name were documented as black.
Kebede
The 2010 census had a total of 1,671 people with the last name Kebede.
About 95% identified as Black or African American.
Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1900 or 1940 censuses.
Kassa
The 2010 census had a total of 1,669 people with the last name Kassa.
About 72% identified as Black or African American.
Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1900 or 1940 censuses.
Kamau
The 2010 census had a total of 1,552 people with the last name Kamau.
About 88% identified as Black or African American.
16 people named Kamau were documented as black in the 1900 U.S. census. But in 1940 there were no holders of the name documented as black.
Keita
The 2010 census had a total of 1,517 people with the last name Keita.
About 93% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, three people named Keita were documented as black. However, there were no black holders of the name in the 1900 U.S. census.
Kone
The 2010 census had a total of 1,431 people with the last name Kone.
About 71% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 9 people named Kone were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 12 people of this name were documented as black.
Kidane
The 2010 census had a total of 1,304 people with the last name Kidane.
About 95% identified as Black or African American.
Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1900 or 1940 censuses.
Kargbo
The 2010 census had a total of 1,087 people with the last name Kargbo.
About 94% identified as Black or African American.
Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1900 or 1940 censuses.
Kanu
The 2010 census had a total of 1,070 people with the last name Kanu.
About 93% identified as Black or African American.
One person named Kanu was documented as black in the 1900 U.S. census. But in 1940 there were no holders of the name documented as black.
Kennerson
The 2010 census had a total of 907 people with the last name Kennerson.
About 54% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 82 people named Kennerson were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 24 people of this name were documented as black.
Kimani
The 2010 census had a total of 892 people with the last name Kimani.
About 93% identified as Black or African American.
Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1900 or 1940 censuses.
Kariuki
The 2010 census had a total of 844 people with the last name Kariuki.
About 94% identified as Black or African American.
Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1900 or 1940 censuses.
Kinloch
The 2010 census had a total of 838 people with the last name Kinloch.
About 60% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 111 people named Kinloch were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 176 people of this name were documented as black.
Killings
The 2010 census had a total of 759 people with the last name Killings.
About 93% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 216 people named Killings were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 76 people of this name were documented as black.
Kromah
The 2010 census had a total of 728 people with the last name Kromah.
About 97% identified as Black or African American.
Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1900 or 1940 censuses.
Kennebrew
The 2010 census had a total of 716 people with the last name Kennebrew.
About 88% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 157 people named Kennebrew were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 58 people of this name were documented as black.
Karanja
The 2010 census had a total of 695 people with the last name Karanja.
About 93% identified as Black or African American.
Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1900 or 1940 censuses.
Kalu
The 2010 census had a total of 670 people with the last name Kalu.
About 92% identified as Black or African American.
Two people named Kalu were documented as black in the 1900 U.S. census. But in 1940 there were no holders of the name documented as black.
Kollie
The 2010 census had a total of 670 people with the last name Kollie.
About 94% identified as Black or African American.
Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1900 or 1940 censuses.
Kingsberry
The 2010 census had a total of 586 people with the last name Kingsberry.
About 80% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 88 people named Kingsberry were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 59 people of this name were documented as black.
Konate
The 2010 census had a total of 571 people with the last name Konate.
About 93% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, two people named Konate were documented as black. However, there were no black holders of the name in the 1900 U.S. census.
Kenon
The 2010 census had a total of 563 people with the last name Kenon.
About 89% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 124 people named Kenon were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 52 people of this name were documented as black.
