Black Last Names Starting With L

Here are the most common Black or African American last names beginning with L 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.

Black Or African American Surnames Beginning With L

These thirty-eight names have at least one thousand bearers in the 2010 U.S. census.

The surnames are listed below in order of how common they are.

Louis

The 2010 census had a total of 23,738 people with the last name Louis.

About 65% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 5,642 people named Louis were documented as black.

In the 1910 U.S. census, 4,371 people of this name were documented as black.

Historic figures

You could argue that Joe Louis shouldn’t be in this section because his full name was Joe Louis Barrow i.e. his surname was Barrow.

But he is known around the world as a Louis, so we’ll stick with that.

Joe L. Barrow was born in in 1914 in Lafayette, Alabama. His family moved to Detroit in 1926. Joe had his first boxing bout when he was seventeen. He gave his name as Joe Louis.

Louis was an amateur light heavyweight champion and turned pro in 1935. Two years later, he was the professional heavyweight champion of the world. He held that crown for twelve years (still a record).

Lyles

The 2010 census had a total of 16,062 people with the last name Lyles.

About 53% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 3,033 people named Lyles were documented as black.

In the 1910 U.S. census, 1,469 people of this name were documented as black.

Historic figures

Joshua and Sanford Lyles were two free African American brothers who purchased land in Indiana in the 1840s.

Their farmland grew to hundreds of acres by the time of the Civil War. It supported a settlement with a church and a school.

The Lyles helped fugitive slaves from Tennessee as part of the Underground Railroad. Some settled and grew the settlement. Emancipation grew it further.

The Lyles established a real train station in 1886, and the settlement was commonly known as Lyles Station.

Depiction of the Underground Railroad

Locket

The 2010 census had a total of 14,140 people with the last name Lockett.

About 71% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 3,254 people named Lockett were documented as black.

In the 1910 U.S. census, 1,555 people of this name were documented as black.

Lofton

The 2010 census had a total of 13,900 people with the last name Lofton.

About 56% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 2,088 people named Lofton were documented as black.

In the 1910 U.S. census, 1,138 people of this name were documented as black.

Lomax

The 2010 census had a total of 9,789 people with the last name Lomax.

About 52% identified as Black or African American.

1,396 people named Lomax were documented as black in the 1910 U.S. census. But in 1940 there were no holders of the name documented as black.

Luckett

The 2010 census had a total of 7,790 people with the last name Luckett.

About 56% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 1,272 people named Luckett were documented as black.

In the 1910 U.S. census, 705 people of this name were documented as black.

Lampkin

The 2010 census had a total of 6,034 people with the last name Lampkin.

About 65% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 1,252 people named Lampkin were documented as black.

In the 1910 U.S. census, 610 people of this name were documented as black.

Larry

The 2010 census had a total of 5,942 people with the last name Larry.

About 67% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 1,351 people named Larry were documented as black.

In the 1910 U.S. census, 450 people of this name were documented as black.

Lattimore

The 2010 census had a total of 5,068 people with the last name Lattimore.

About 67% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 996 people named Lattimore were documented as black.

In the 1910 U.S. census, 497 people of this name were documented as black.

Leak

The 2010 census had a total of 5,053 people with the last name Leak.

About 57% identified as Black or African American.

1,059 people named Leak were documented as black in the 1910 U.S. census. But in 1940 there were no holders of the name documented as black.

Liggins

The 2010 census had a total of 3,827 people with the last name Liggins.

About 84% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 1,079 people named Liggins were documented as black.

In the 1910 U.S. census, 438 people of this name were documented as black.

Lathan

The 2010 census had a total of 3,575 people with the last name Lathan.

About 53% identified as Black or African American.

380 people named Lathan were documented as black in the 1910 U.S. census. But in 1940 there were no holders of the name documented as black.

Lenoir

The 2010 census had a total of 3,534 people with the last name Lenoir.

About 54% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 566 people named Lenoir were documented as black.

In the 1910 U.S. census, 242 people of this name were documented as black.

Littles

The 2010 census had a total of 3,224 people with the last name Littles.

About 73% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 822 people named Littles were documented as black.

In the 1910 U.S. census, 399 people of this name were documented as black.

Laguerre

The 2010 census had a total of 3,171 people with the last name Laguerre.

About 81% identified as Black or African American.

Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1900 or 1940 censuses.

Leverette

The 2010 census had a total of 2,958 people with the last name Leverette.

About 57% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 252 people named Leverette were documented as black.

In the 1910 U.S. census, 54 people of this name were documented as black.

Leflore

The 2010 census had a total of 2,884 people with the last name Leflore.

About 74% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 350 people named Leflore were documented as black.

In the 1910 U.S. census, 96 people of this name were documented as black.

Ladson

The 2010 census had a total of 2,729 people with the last name Ladson.

About 76% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 658 people named Ladson were documented as black.

In the 1910 U.S. census, 481 people of this name were documented as black.

Latimore

The 2010 census had a total of 2,605 people with the last name Latimore.

About 83% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 905 people named Latimore were documented as black.

In the 1910 U.S. census, 640 people of this name were documented as black.

Legette

The 2010 census had a total of 2,244 people with the last name Legette.

About 73% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 369 people named Legette were documented as black.

In the 1910 U.S. census, 208 people of this name were documented as black.

Louissaint

The 2010 census had a total of 1,879 people with the last name Louissaint.

About 93% identified as Black or African American.

Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1900 or 1940 censuses.

Latson

The 2010 census had a total of 1,704 people with the last name Latson.

About 69% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 487 people named Latson were documented as black.

In the 1910 U.S. census, 261 people of this name were documented as black.

Lockley

The 2010 census had a total of 1,649 people with the last name Lockley.

About 61% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 360 people named Lockley were documented as black.

In the 1910 U.S. census, 288 people of this name were documented as black.

Levingston

The 2010 census had a total of 1,581 people with the last name Levingston.

About 56% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 264 people named Levingston were documented as black.

In the 1910 U.S. census, 255 people of this name were documented as black.

Lucien

The 2010 census had a total of 1,563 people with the last name Lucien.

About 73% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 81 people named Lucien were documented as black.

In the 1910 U.S. census, 42 people of this name were documented as black.

Lampkins

The 2010 census had a total of 1,453 people with the last name Lampkins.

About 60% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 355 people named Lampkins were documented as black.

In the 1910 U.S. census, 376 people of this name were documented as black.

Lesure

The 2010 census had a total of 1,400 people with the last name Lesure.

About 66% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 156 people named Lesure were documented as black.

In the 1910 U.S. census, 9 people of this name were documented as black.

Laury

The 2010 census had a total of 1,375 people with the last name Laury.

About 55% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 253 people named Laury were documented as black.

In the 1910 U.S. census, 114 people of this name were documented as black.

Leday

The 2010 census had a total of 1,363 people with the last name Leday.

About 83% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 147 people named Leday were documented as black.

In the 1910 U.S. census, 1 people of this name were documented as black.

Lawal

The 2010 census had a total of 1,292 people with the last name Lawal.

About 95% identified as Black or African American.

Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1900 or 1940 censuses.

Leaks

The 2010 census had a total of 1,278 people with the last name Leaks.

About 91% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 291 people named Leaks were documented as black.

In the 1910 U.S. census, 52 people of this name were documented as black.

Lesane

The 2010 census had a total of 1,210 people with the last name Lesane.

About 93% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 120 people named Lesane were documented as black.

In the 1910 U.S. census, 37 people of this name were documented as black.

Langhorne

The 2010 census had a total of 1,165 people with the last name Langhorne.

About 56% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 64 people named Langhorne were documented as black.

In the 1910 U.S. census, 60 people of this name were documented as black.

Linzy

The 2010 census had a total of 1,159 people with the last name Linzy.

About 54% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 194 people named Linzy were documented as black.

In the 1910 U.S. census, 192 people of this name were documented as black.

Lamour

The 2010 census had a total of 1,140 people with the last name Lamour.

About 74% identified as Black or African American.

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

In the 1910 U.S. census, 1 people of this name were documented as black.

Lovings

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

About 54% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 213 people named Lovings were documented as black.

In the 1910 U.S. census, 120 people of this name were documented as black.

Lorick

The 2010 census had a total of 1,061 people with the last name Lorick.

About 54% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 167 people named Lorick were documented as black.

In the 1910 U.S. census, 62 people of this name were documented as black.

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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