Here are the most common Black or African American last names beginning with P 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 P
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.
Pierre
The 2010 census had a total of 33,913 people with the last name Pierre.
About 86% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 1,046 people named Pierre were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 803 people of this name were documented as black.
Historic figures
Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin was born in 1842 in Boston. Her father, John St. Pierre, was from Martinique, while her mother Elizabeth was from England.
She married George Ruffin who became notable in his own right. During the Civil War, Josephine and George recruited black soldiers for the Union.
Josephine co-founded the American Women Suffrage Association in 1869 and established the first black woman’s newspaper. She was a co-founder of the NAACP in 1910.
Paige
The 2010 census had a total of 20,063 people with the last name Paige.
About 52% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 1,171 people named Paige were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 165 people of this name were documented as black.
Historic figures
Richard George Leslie Paige was born in 1886 in Norfolk, Virginia. He escaped slavery by fleeing on a schooner to Philadelphia.
Paige moved to Boston where he met George Ruffin, the husband of Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin in our previous section. He married George’s sister, Lillie.
R.G.L. Paige returned to Norfolk after emancipation. He was elected to the House of Delegates in 1871 and served from 1871-75 and from 1879-82.
Paige campaigned vigorously for civil rights during his political career. He traveled to Washington in 1972 to petition Congress to pass a civil rights bill.
He fought unsuccessfully for retribution against local lynch mobs. Paige was more successful with the abolition of whipping posts and public whippings.
Paige qualified to practice as a lawyer and also invested in property in the state. He died in 1892 as a relatively rich man.
Peoples
The 2010 census had a total of 18,672 people with the last name Peoples.
About 55% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 3,773 people named Peoples were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 1,787 people of this name were documented as black.
Purnell
The 2010 census had a total of 8,441 people with the last name Purnell.
About 62% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 2,153 people named Purnell were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 1,713 people of this name were documented as black.
Pleasant
The 2010 census had a total of 7,378 people with the last name Pleasant.
About 54% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 1,482 people named Pleasant were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 1,074 people of this name were documented as black.
Pride
The 2010 census had a total of 7,172 people with the last name Pride.
About 52% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 1,369 people named Pride were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 1,042 people of this name were documented as black.
Phillip
The 2010 census had a total of 6,857 people with the last name Phillip.
About 55% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 1,428 people named Phillip were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 875 people of this name were documented as black.
Pinckney
The 2010 census had a total of 6,800 people with the last name Pinckney.
About 70% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 1,486 people named Pinckney were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 1,195 people of this name were documented as black.
Pinkney
The 2010 census had a total of 6,378 people with the last name Pinkney.
About 83% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 2,366 people named Pinkney were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 1,740 people of this name were documented as black.
Pierrelouis
The 2010 census had a total of 5,653 people with the last name Pierrelouis.
About 93% identified as Black or African American.
Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1900 or 1940 censuses.
Pettway
The 2010 census had a total of 4,807 people with the last name Pettway.
About 87% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 347 people named Pettway were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 280 people of this name were documented as black.
Powe
The 2010 census had a total of 4,233 people with the last name Powe.
About 72% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 827 people named Powe were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 562 people of this name were documented as black.
Polite
The 2010 census had a total of 4,108 people with the last name Polite.
About 78% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 1,214 people named Polite were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 961 people of this name were documented as black.
Pegues
The 2010 census had a total of 3,864 people with the last name Pegues.
About 80% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 811 people named Pegues were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 729 people of this name were documented as black.
Partee
The 2010 census had a total of 3,369 people with the last name Partee.
About 51% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 611 people named Partee were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 451 people of this name were documented as black.
Portis
The 2010 census had a total of 3,274 people with the last name Portis.
About 70% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 558 people named Portis were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 320 people of this name were documented as black.
Palmore
The 2010 census had a total of 3,271 people with the last name Palmore.
About 54% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 569 people named Palmore were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 297 people of this name were documented as black.
Pettaway
The 2010 census had a total of 3,157 people with the last name Pettaway.
About 86% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 371 people named Pettaway were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 61 people of this name were documented as black.
Pettiford
The 2010 census had a total of 3,148 people with the last name Pettiford.
About 83% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 920 people named Pettiford were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 498 people of this name were documented as black.
Pernell
The 2010 census had a total of 2,845 people with the last name Pernell.
About 63% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 580 people named Pernell were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 467 people of this name were documented as black.
Primus
The 2010 census had a total of 2,613 people with the last name Primus.
About 58% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 461 people named Primus were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 372 people of this name were documented as black.
Pryce
The 2010 census had a total of 2,587 people with the last name Pryce.
About 56% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 54 people named Pryce were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, three people of this name were documented as black.
Purifoy
The 2010 census had a total of 2,511 people with the last name Purifoy.
About 60% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 302 people named Purifoy were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 281 people of this name were documented as black.
Peterkin
The 2010 census had a total of 2,507 people with the last name Peterkin.
About 68% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 336 people named Peterkin were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 174 people of this name were documented as black.
Pompey
The 2010 census had a total of 2,473 people with the last name Pompey.
About 71% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 476 people named Pompey were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 203 people of this name were documented as black.
Pinnock
The 2010 census had a total of 2,318 people with the last name Pinnock.
About 74% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 33 people named Pinnock were documented as black. However, there were no black holders of the name in the 1900 U.S. census.
Philippe
The 2010 census had a total of 2,121 people with the last name Philippe.
About 67% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, two people named Philippe were documented as black. They were a married couple living in Suwannee County in Florida. Ira was born in Georgia, while Willie Mae was born in Alabama.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 15 people of this name were documented as black.
Purdie
The 2010 census had a total of 2,117 people with the last name Purdie.
About 56% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 374 people named Purdie were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 240 people of this name were documented as black.
Peete
The 2010 census had a total of 2,029 people with the last name Peete.
About 61% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 242 people named Peete were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 179 people of this name were documented as black.
Penson
The 2010 census had a total of 1,891 people with the last name Penson.
About 51% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 305 people named Penson were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 101 people of this name were documented as black.