Here are the most common Black or African American last names beginning with U 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 12 Surnames Beginning With U
These twelve black and African American names have the highest number of entries in the 2010 U.S. census.
Usually we have a “top 30” list, but there aren’t enough names beginning with U to do that here!
The surnames are listed below in order of how common they are.
Upshaw
The 2010 census had a total of 7,401 people with the last name Upshaw.
About 55% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 1,699 people named Upshaw were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 968 people of this name were documented as black.
Historic figures
Gene Upshaw was born in 1945 in Robstown, Texas. He became an Oakland Raiders legend, winning two Super Bowls over fifteen years.
His list of accolades in the game is too long to get into here. Instead, I’ll point to his work off the pitch.
Upshaw was on the bargaining committee of the National Football League Players’ Association. Never a man to take a backward step, he was a key part in a players’ strike and years of legal challenges.
Eventually, the NFLPA agreed to a salary cap in return for free agency. He could be a polarizing figure amongst players. But when he died in 2008, all NFL teams wore a patch with his number 63 in their first game of the season.
Ulysse
The 2010 census had a total of 1,442 people with the last name Ulysse.
About 93% identified as Black or African American.
One person named Ulysse was documented as black in the 1900 U.S. census. In 1940, there were no holders of the name documented as black.
Upshur
The 2010 census had a total of 963 people with the last name Upshur.
About 79% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 168 people named Upshur were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 292 people of this name were documented as black.
Utsey
The 2010 census had a total of 886 people with the last name Utsey.
About 53% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 208 people named Utsey were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 116 people of this name were documented as black.
Union
The 2010 census had a total of 592 people with the last name Union.
About 59% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 104 people named Union were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 76 people of this name were documented as black.
Ursery
The 2010 census had a total of 505 people with the last name Ursery.
About 51% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 69 people named Ursery were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 59 people of this name were documented as black.
Udoh
The 2010 census had a total of 462 people with the last name Udoh.
About 96% identified as Black or African American.
Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1900 or 1940 censuses.
Udo
The 2010 census had a total of 409 people with the last name Udo.
About 64% identified as Black or African American.
Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1900 or 1940 censuses.
Uche
The 2010 census had a total of 385 people with the last name Uche.
About 98% identified as Black or African American.
Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1900 or 1940 censuses.
Umeh
The 2010 census had a total of 354 people with the last name Umeh.
About 95% identified as Black or African American.
Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1900 or 1940 censuses.
Underdue
The 2010 census had a total of 340 people with the last name Underdue.
About 88% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 69 people named Underdue were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, seven people of this name were documented as black.
Umoh
The 2010 census had a total of 309 people with the last name Umoh.
About 93% identified as Black or African American.
Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1900 or 1940 censuses.
