Here are the most common Black or African American last names beginning with T 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 T
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.
You may be surprised not to find “Thomas” here because it is a very 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 Thomas surname.
Trice
The 2010 census had a total of 8,546 people with the last name Trice.
About 51% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 1,701 people named Trice were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 1,323 people of this name were documented as black.
Historic figures
Jack Trice was born in 1902 in Hiram, Ohio. His high school football coach moved to coach at Iowa State College, and Trice went there to study animal husbandry.
Picked for the college football team, his second match was against the University of Minnesota. During the game, three Minnesota players trampled hard on Trice after a tackle.
He died two days later from internal injuries. Some who saw the tackle thought it was deliberate violence. Iowa State didn’t play Minnesota again until 1989.
In 1974, the college named their football field after him. In 1997, the stadium was renamed as the Jack Trice Stadium.
Towns
The 2010 census had a total of 7,760 people with the last name Towns.
About 54% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 1,645 people named Towns were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 1,294 people of this name were documented as black.
Toliver
The 2010 census had a total of 7,536 people with the last name Toliver.
About 68% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 2,139 people named Toliver were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 1,758 people of this name were documented as black.
Historic figures
I don’t have much information on the Reverend Isaac Toliver. He was a pastor at the Liberty Baptist Church in Washington D.C.
He commissioned what’s known as an “advertising card” which is now at the Smithsonian Institution.
Here it is:
According to the provided details, Toliver died in 1913.
Toussaint
The 2010 census had a total of 7,441 people with the last name Toussaint.
About 73% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 132 people named Toussaint were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 119 people of this name were documented as black.
Thompkins
The 2010 census had a total of 5,732 people with the last name Thompkins.
About 70% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 964 people named Thompkins were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 487 people of this name were documented as black.
Townes
The 2010 census had a total of 5,067 people with the last name Townes.
About 67% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 692 people named Townes were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 560 people of this name were documented as black.
Tunstall
The 2010 census had a total of 3,859 people with the last name Tunstall.
About 51% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 399 people named Tunstall were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 488 people of this name were documented as black.
Threatt
The 2010 census had a total of 3,545 people with the last name Threatt.
About 56% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 390 people named Threatt were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 126 people of this name were documented as black.
Trotman
The 2010 census had a total of 3,212 people with the last name Trotman.
About 57% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 411 people named Trotman were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 158 people of this name were documented as black.
Tillis
The 2010 census had a total of 3,211 people with the last name Tillis.
About 53% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 573 people named Tillis were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 243 people of this name were documented as black.
Toles
The 2010 census had a total of 3,110 people with the last name Toles.
About 60% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 622 people named Toles were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 443 people of this name were documented as black.
Tyus
The 2010 census had a total of 3,102 people with the last name Tyus.
About 78% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 522 people named Tyus were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 354 people of this name were documented as black.
Toomer
The 2010 census had a total of 3,059 people with the last name Toomer.
About 66% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 674 people named Toomer were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 419 people of this name were documented as black.
Twitty
The 2010 census had a total of 2,947 people with the last name Twitty.
About 51% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 520 people named Twitty were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 327 people of this name were documented as black.
Truss
The 2010 census had a total of 2,297 people with the last name Truss.
About 61% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 424 people named Truss were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 287 people of this name were documented as black.
Toure
The 2010 census had a total of 2,198 people with the last name Toure.
About 92% identified as Black or African American.
Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1900 or 1940 censuses.
Traore
The 2010 census had a total of 1,973 people with the last name Traore.
About 94% identified as Black or African American.
Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1900 or 1940 censuses.
Tellis
The 2010 census had a total of 1,789 people with the last name Tellis.
About 68% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 332 people named Tellis were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 102 people of this name were documented as black.
Theus
The 2010 census had a total of 1,669 people with the last name Theus.
About 66% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 288 people named Theus were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 151 people of this name were documented as black.
Tadesse
The 2010 census had a total of 1,465 people with the last name Tadesse.
About 96% identified as Black or African American.
Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1900 or 1940 censuses.
Tabron
The 2010 census had a total of 1,452 people with the last name Tabron.
About 81% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 196 people named Tabron were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 36 people of this name were documented as black.
Tesfaye
The 2010 census had a total of 1,427 people with the last name Tesfaye.
About 96% identified as Black or African American.
Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1900 or 1940 censuses.
Townsel
The 2010 census had a total of 1,412 people with the last name Townsel.
About 77% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 233 people named Townsel were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 139 people of this name were documented as black.
Torain
The 2010 census had a total of 1,303 people with the last name Torain.
About 84% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 36 people named Torain were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 1 people of this name were documented as black.
Turay
The 2010 census had a total of 1,302 people with the last name Turay.
About 78% identified as Black or African American.
Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1900 or 1940 censuses.
Tookes
The 2010 census had a total of 1,168 people with the last name Tookes.
About 86% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 159 people named Tookes were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 6 people of this name were documented as black.
Tillmon
The 2010 census had a total of 1,124 people with the last name Tillmon.
About 72% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 146 people named Tillmon were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 79 people of this name were documented as black.
Twine
The 2010 census had a total of 1,091 people with the last name Twine.
About 64% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 372 people named Twine were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 320 people of this name were documented as black.
Tekle
The 2010 census had a total of 1,054 people with the last name Tekle.
About 93% identified as Black or African American.
Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1900 or 1940 censuses.
