Here are the most common Black or African American last names beginning with S 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 S
These black and African American names have the highest number of entries in the 2010 U.S. census.
You may be surprised not to find “Smith” here because it is such a common name. But it isn’t at least 50% black. Our sister website has a separate in-depth look at the black history of the Smith surname.
The surnames are listed below in order of how common they are.
Samuel
The 2010 census had a total of 23,125 people with the last name Samuel.
About 53% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 3,929 people named Samuel were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 2,323 people of this name were documented as black.
The next name is a spelling variant.
Samuels
The 2010 census had a total of 22,207 people with the last name Samuels.
About 53% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 2,747 people named Samuels were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 1,466 people of this name were documented as black.
Historic figures
Adah Belle Samuels was born in 1870 in Richmond, Virginia. She moved to New York and studied nursing.
After graduating in 1905, she held the position of assistant superintendent at Lincoln Hospital for eighteen years. Only discrimination held her back from being superintendent.
Adah’s married name was Thoms. To counter discrimination, she co-founded the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses.
She played a key role in ensuring that the American Red Cross allowed black nurses to join in WWI.
Starks
The 2010 census had a total of 20,130 people with the last name Starks.
About 61% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 3,883 people named Starks were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 2,304 people of this name were documented as black.
Historic figures
Maggie Starks (nee Fulleylove) was born in 1896 in Calvert, Texas. She married Reverend Archie Starks and settled in San Angelo.
When her husband died in 1925, Maggie Starks used the $4,000 life insurance to buy land and start an undertaking service for the black community.
She grew a successful business as an African American single mother during the Great Depression.
Singletary
The 2010 census had a total of 13,749 people with the last name Singletary.
About 51% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 1,997 people named Singletary were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 680 people of this name were documented as black.
Scales
The 2010 census had a total of 13,190 people with the last name Scales.
About 55% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 2,624 people named Scales were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 1,785 people of this name were documented as black.
Spann
The 2010 census had a total of 12,457 people with the last name Spann.
About 51% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 1,799 people named Spann were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 837 people of this name were documented as black.
Smalls
The 2010 census had a total of 12,435 people with the last name Smalls.
About 90% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 2,431 people named Smalls were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 2,057 people of this name were documented as black.
Shorter
The 2010 census had a total of 8,675 people with the last name Shorter.
About 58% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 1,631 people named Shorter were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 1,419 people of this name were documented as black.
Sherrod
The 2010 census had a total of 8,420 people with the last name Sherrod.
About 51% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 1,090 people named Sherrod were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 543 people of this name were documented as black.
Spearman
The 2010 census had a total of 8,199 people with the last name Spearman.
About 52% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 1,609 people named Spearman were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 860 people of this name were documented as black.
Stallworth
The 2010 census had a total of 8,155 people with the last name Stallworth.
About 84% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 1,811 people named Stallworth were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 878 people of this name were documented as black.
Spruill
The 2010 census had a total of 7,683 people with the last name Spruill.
About 54% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 1,066 people named Spruill were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 300 people of this name were documented as black.
Sturdivant
The 2010 census had a total of 7,223 people with the last name Sturdivant.
About 53% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 835 people named Sturdivant were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 581 people of this name were documented as black.
Silas
The 2010 census had a total of 4,729 people with the last name Silas.
About 56% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 1,186 people named Silas were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 527 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.
Suber
The 2010 census had a total of 4,495 people with the last name Suber.
About 63% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 1,033 people named Suber were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 697 people of this name were documented as black.
Stroman
The 2010 census had a total of 4,071 people with the last name Stroman.
About 58% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 764 people named Stroman were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 345 people of this name were documented as black.
Shabazz
The 2010 census had a total of 3,963 people with the last name Shabazz.
About 88% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 9 people named Shabazz were documented as black. However, there were no black holders of the name in the 1900 U.S. census.
Shavers
The 2010 census had a total of 3,609 people with the last name Shavers.
About 71% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 607 people named Shavers were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 464 people of this name were documented as black.
Speights
The 2010 census had a total of 3,176 people with the last name Speights.
About 54% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 359 people named Speights were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 139 people of this name were documented as black.
Swinton
The 2010 census had a total of 3,028 people with the last name Swinton.
About 70% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 674 people named Swinton were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 369 people of this name were documented as black.
Session
The 2010 census had a total of 3,019 people with the last name Session.
About 84% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 648 people named Session were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 195 people of this name were documented as black.
Sanon
The 2010 census had a total of 2,943 people with the last name Sanon.
About 82% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, two people named Sanon were documented as black. One was born in Haiti.
The same number was in the 1900 census. These two are a married couple.
Seabrook
The 2010 census had a total of 2,859 people with the last name Seabrook.
About 55% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 656 people named Seabrook were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 526 people of this name were documented as black.
Sydnor
The 2010 census had a total of 2,751 people with the last name Sydnor.
About 56% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 303 people named Sydnor were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 298 people of this name were documented as black.
Spates
The 2010 census had a total of 2,742 people with the last name Spates.
About 60% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 583 people named Spates were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 290 people of this name were documented as black.
Simeon
The 2010 census had a total of 2,690 people with the last name Simeon.
About 55% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 97 people named Simeon were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 65 people of this name were documented as black.
Speller
The 2010 census had a total of 2,668 people with the last name Speller.
About 73% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 451 people named Speller were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 251 people of this name were documented as black.
Satchell
The 2010 census had a total of 2,598 people with the last name Satchell.
About 63% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 238 people named Satchell were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 143 people of this name were documented as black.
Salters
The 2010 census had a total of 2,597 people with the last name Salters.
About 63% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 449 people named Salters were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 140 people of this name were documented as black.
