Here are the most common Black or African American last names beginning with V 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 V
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.
Vereen
The 2010 census had a total of 3,683 people with the last name Vereen.
About 72% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 517 people named Vereen were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 174 people of this name were documented as black.
Historic figures
Ben Vereen was born in 1946 in Miami. When he graduated from Emerson College, he was cast in the film Sweet Charity alongside Sammy Davis Jr.
As well as starring in broadway shows like Jesus Christ Superstar, Vereen became familiar to television viewers through his role as Chicken George in the Roots miniseries.
While continuing a long theatre career, Vereen had supporting roles in television series like Webster and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
Varnado
The 2010 census had a total of 3,597 people with the last name Varnado.
About 50% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 312 people named Varnado were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 145 people of this name were documented as black.
Historic figures
Jerry Varnado was born in 1944 in Jackson, Mississippi. He joined the Air Force after school and then went to college in San Francisco in 1966.
Varnardo co-founded the Black Student Union at S.F. State University (SFSU). The Union led a historic strike to achieve better access for black students and better conditions for black staff members.
Veney
The 2010 census had a total of 2,016 people with the last name Veney.
About 79% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 203 people named Veney were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 313 people of this name were documented as black.
Historic figures
We don’t know exactly when Bethany Veney was born, but it was about 1815. She lived at least one hundred years, as she died in 1915.
Her maiden name was Johnson and she was born into slavery in Page County, Virginia.
When her first husband was sold at auction, he escaped but was captured. No further account is known of Jerry Fickland.
She later married Frank Veney, but was sold to a succession of slave owners. She and a son were finally freed in 1859 in Providence, but the boy died later that year.
After the Civil War, she made four trips south to move nineteen relatives to New England. She published her memoirs in 1889. This is now an important document of the times.
It is titled “Aunt Betty: The Narrative Of Bethany Veney, A Salve Woman”.
Vasser
The 2010 census had a total of 1,856 people with the last name Vasser.
About 53% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 246 people named Vasser were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 153 people of this name were documented as black.
Veasley
The 2010 census had a total of 1,290 people with the last name Veasley.
About 90% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 163 people named Veasley were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 28 people of this name were documented as black.
Vassell
The 2010 census had a total of 1,228 people with the last name Vassell.
About 90% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 10 people named Vassell were documented as black.
However, there were no black holders of the name in the 1900 U.S. census.
Venson
The 2010 census had a total of 1,191 people with the last name Venson.
About 79% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 410 people named Venson were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 154 people of this name were documented as black.
Victorian
The 2010 census had a total of 1,089 people with the last name Victorian.
About 81% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 146 people named Victorian were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 58 people of this name were documented as black.
Voltaire
The 2010 census had a total of 1,018 people with the last name Voltaire.
About 86% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 15 people named Voltaire were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 16 people of this name were documented as black.
Vicks
The 2010 census had a total of 954 people with the last name Vicks.
About 74% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 184 people named Vicks were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 88 people of this name were documented as black.
Volcy
The 2010 census had a total of 944 people with the last name Volcy.
About 91% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 11 people named Volcy were documented as black.
However, there were no black holders of the name in the 1900 U.S. census.
Vaughns
The 2010 census had a total of 944 people with the last name Vaughns.
About 88% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 443 people named Vaughns were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 152 people of this name were documented as black.
Viverette
The 2010 census had a total of 806 people with the last name Viverette.
About 50% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 79 people named Viverette were documented as black.
However, there were no black holders of the name in the 1900 U.S. census.
Valcin
The 2010 census had a total of 788 people with the last name Valcin.
About 91% identified as Black or African American.
Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1900 or 1940 censuses.
Veals
The 2010 census had a total of 702 people with the last name Veals.
About 73% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 101 people named Veals were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 42 people of this name were documented as black.
Vanterpool
The 2010 census had a total of 696 people with the last name Vanterpool.
About 74% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 107 people named Vanterpool were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 1 people of this name were documented as black.
Vernet
The 2010 census had a total of 609 people with the last name Vernet.
About 69% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 20 people named Vernet were documented as black.
However, there were no black holders of the name in the 1900 U.S. census.
Verdell
The 2010 census had a total of 570 people with the last name Verdell.
About 79% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 126 people named Verdell were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 35 people of this name were documented as black.
Vilsaint
The 2010 census had a total of 542 people with the last name Vilsaint.
About 91% identified as Black or African American.
Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1900 or 1940 censuses.
Vieux
The 2010 census had a total of 519 people with the last name Vieux.
About 61% identified as Black or African American.
Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1900 or 1940 censuses.
Vassel
The 2010 census had a total of 512 people with the last name Vassel.
About 55% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 26 people named Vassel were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 1 people of this name were documented as black.
Vessel
The 2010 census had a total of 510 people with the last name Vessel.
About 56% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 95 people named Vessel were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 34 people of this name were documented as black.
Venning
The 2010 census had a total of 469 people with the last name Venning.
About 60% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 57 people named Venning were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 49 people of this name were documented as black.
Vil
The 2010 census had a total of 463 people with the last name Vil.
About 82% identified as Black or African American.
Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1900 or 1940 censuses.
Venerable
The 2010 census had a total of 411 people with the last name Venerable.
About 55% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 175 people named Venerable were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 162 people of this name were documented as black.
Volmar
The 2010 census had a total of 388 people with the last name Volmar.
About 55% identified as Black or African American.
Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1900 or 1940 censuses.
Veasy
The 2010 census had a total of 377 people with the last name Veasy.
About 63% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 91 people named Veasy were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 174 people of this name were documented as black.
Void
The 2010 census had a total of 375 people with the last name Void.
About 84% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 122 people named Void were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 41 people of this name were documented as black.
Valbrun
The 2010 census had a total of 353 people with the last name Valbrun.
About 95% identified as Black or African American.
Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1900 or 1940 censuses.
Virgile
The 2010 census had a total of 342 people with the last name Virgile.
About 84% identified as Black or African American.
9 people named Virgile were documented as black in the 1900 U.S. census. But in 1940 there were no holders of the name documented as black.
