Black Last Names Starting With R

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

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.

Rivers

The 2010 census had a total of 38,662 people with the last name Rivers.

About 50% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 7,611 people named Rivers were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 5,168 people of this name were documented as black.

Historic figures

David Rivers was born in 1859 in Montgomery, Alabama.

Rivers won a Peabody Scholarship to study theology at Roger Williams University. During his time there, he was elected to represent Fayette County in the Tennessee General Assembly.

The Committee for Elections tried to block him from taking his seat but he served his first term from 1883-84.

Rivers was elected for a second term but was forced to flee Fayette County. Rivers settled in Nashville and taught at Roger Williams.

He eventually became a pastor in Washington D.C. We know from the 1910 census that he was a house at that time. By 1940, he owned his home.

One of his sons, Francis Rivers, was later elected to the New York General Assembly. Francis rose from assistant district attorney to be the first black Chief Justice of the City Court of New York.

Ruffin

The 2010 census had a total of 16,324 people with the last name Ruffin.

About 80% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 3,804 people named Ruffin were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 3,071 people of this name were documented as black.

Historic figures

George Ruffin was born in 1834 in Richmond, Virginia. His parents moved to Boston so that their children could get an education.

After studying law at college, Ruffin went on to Harvard Law School. When he graduated, he was only the second African American to get a degree from Harvard University.

Ruffin served two terms with the Mass State Assembly from 1869. In 1883, he was appointed as a judge of the Municipal Court of Charlestown. He was the first black justice in New England.

George’s wife was Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin, a notable black suffragist.

Randle

The 2010 census had a total of 14,437 people with the last name Randle.

About 68% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 2,258 people named Randle were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 1,729 people of this name were documented as black.

Reddick

The 2010 census had a total of 9,785 people with the last name Reddick.

About 52% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 2,309 people named Reddick were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 1,512 people of this name were documented as black.

Riddick

The 2010 census had a total of 8,464 people with the last name Riddick.

About 68% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 1,377 people named Riddick were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 1,552 people of this name were documented as black.

Royster

The 2010 census had a total of 8,056 people with the last name Royster.

About 61% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 1,695 people named Royster were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 1,066 people of this name were documented as black.

Roundtree

The 2010 census had a total of 6,439 people with the last name Roundtree.

About 69% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 1,724 people named Roundtree were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 1,052 people of this name were documented as black.

Rolle

The 2010 census had a total of 4,819 people with the last name Rolle.

About 73% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 579 people named Rolle were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 22 people of this name were documented as black.

Rhone

The 2010 census had a total of 4,667 people with the last name Rhone.

About 61% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 806 people named Rhone were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 288 people of this name were documented as black.

Spikes

The 2010 census had a total of 4,586 people with the last name Spikes.

About 56% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 988 people named Spikes were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 494 people of this name were documented as black.

Rayford

The 2010 census had a total of 4,584 people with the last name Rayford.

About 85% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 1,253 people named Rayford were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 609 people of this name were documented as black.

Rozier

The 2010 census had a total of 4,386 people with the last name Rozier.

About 54% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 845 people named Rozier were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 258 people of this name were documented as black.

Rodney

The 2010 census had a total of 4,089 people with the last name Rodney.

About 51% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 328 people named Rodney were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 150 people of this name were documented as black.

Rembert

The 2010 census had a total of 3,994 people with the last name Rembert.

About 77% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 1,011 people named Rembert were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 569 people of this name were documented as black.

Rankins

The 2010 census had a total of 3,809 people with the last name Rankins.

About 68% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 793 people named Rankins were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 501 people of this name were documented as black.

Rumph

The 2010 census had a total of 3,218 people with the last name Rumph.

About 63% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 574 people named Rumph were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 292 people of this name were documented as black.

Richburg

The 2010 census had a total of 3,205 people with the last name Richburg.

About 55% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 504 people named Richburg were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 140 people of this name were documented as black.

Romain

The 2010 census had a total of 2,946 people with the last name Romain.

About 52% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 93 people named Romain were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 59 people of this name were documented as black.

Rene

The 2010 census had a total of 2,933 people with the last name Rene.

About 62% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 53 people named Rene were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 39 people of this name were documented as black.

Rorie

The 2010 census had a total of 2,682 people with the last name Rorie.

About 50% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 221 people named Rorie were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 100 people of this name were documented as black.

Ragin

The 2010 census had a total of 2,551 people with the last name Ragin.

About 79% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 552 people named Ragin were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 271 people of this name were documented as black.

Reliford

The 2010 census had a total of 2,421 people with the last name Reliford.

About 67% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 233 people named Reliford were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 95 people of this name were documented as black.

Riles

The 2010 census had a total of 2,328 people with the last name Riles.

About 54% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 423 people named Riles were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 226 people of this name were documented as black.

Ryans

The 2010 census had a total of 2,027 people with the last name Ryans.

About 64% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 366 people named Ryans were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 172 people of this name were documented as black.

Rosemond

The 2010 census had a total of 2,024 people with the last name Rosemond.

About 76% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 424 people named Rosemond were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 208 people of this name were documented as black.

Rascoe

The 2010 census had a total of 1,958 people with the last name Rascoe.

About 50% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 157 people named Rascoe were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 162 people of this name were documented as black.

Rhymes

The 2010 census had a total of 1,885 people with the last name Rhymes.

About 57% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 293 people named Rhymes were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 124 people of this name were documented as black.

Roseboro

The 2010 census had a total of 1,798 people with the last name Roseboro.

About 88% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 219 people named Roseboro were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 109 people of this name were documented as black.

Ransome

The 2010 census had a total of 1,671 people with the last name Ransome.

About 61% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 277 people named Ransome were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 188 people of this name were documented as black.

Roquemore

The 2010 census had a total of 1,577 people with the last name Roquemore.

About 51% identified as Black or African American.

In the 1940 U.S. census, 232 people named Roquemore were documented as black.

In the 1900 U.S. census, 103 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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