Here are the most common Black or African American last names beginning with Z 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 Twenty Surnames Beginning With Z
These black and African American names have the highest number of entries in the 2010 U.S. census. I usually give a list of thirty surnames – but there weren’t enough starting with Z!
The surnames are listed below in order of how common they are.
Zeno
The 2010 census had a total of 3,055 people with the last name Zeno.
About 50% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 323 people named Zeno were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 99 people of this name were documented as black.
Zanders
The 2010 census had a total of 2,040 people with the last name Zanders.
About 72% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 381 people named Zanders were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 207 people of this name were documented as black.
Zachery
The 2010 census had a total of 1,917 people with the last name Zachery.
About 72% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 336 people named Zachery were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 115 people of this name were documented as black.
Zackery
The 2010 census had a total of 1,485 people with the last name Zackery. This is a spelling variation of the name in the previous section.
About 74% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 462 people named Zackery were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 159 people of this name were documented as black.
Zamor
The 2010 census had a total of 811 people with the last name Zamor.
About 85% identified as Black or African American.
Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1900 or 1940 censuses.
Zellars
The 2010 census had a total of 640 people with the last name Zellars.
About 64% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 131 people named Zellars were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 119 people of this name were documented as black.
Zollicoffer
The 2010 census had a total of 620 people with the last name Zollicoffer.
About 81% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 101 people named Zollicoffer were documented as black.
However, there were no black holders of the name in the 1900 U.S. census.
Zeleke
The 2010 census had a total of 469 people with the last name Zeleke.
About 95% identified as Black or African American.
Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1900 or 1940 censuses.
Zephir
The 2010 census had a total of 365 people with the last name Zephir.
About 73% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, two people named Zephir were documented as black.
However, there were no black holders of the name in the 1900 U.S. census.
Zewdie
The 2010 census had a total of 340 people with the last name Zewdie.
About 97% identified as Black or African American.
Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1900 or 1940 censuses.
Zinnerman
The 2010 census had a total of 298 people with the last name Zinnerman.
About 93% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 59 people named Zinnerman were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 7 people of this name were documented as black.
Zephirin
The 2010 census had a total of 297 people with the last name Zephirin.
About 85% identified as Black or African American.
Three people named Zephirin were documented as black in the 1900 U.S. census. But in 1940 there were no holders of the name documented as black.
Zulu
The 2010 census had a total of 255 people with the last name Zulu.
About 89% identified as Black or African American.
Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1900 or 1940 censuses.
Zephyr
The 2010 census had a total of 240 people with the last name Zephyr.
About 85% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 14 people named Zephyr were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 9 people of this name were documented as black.
Ziyad
The 2010 census had a total of 208 people with the last name Ziyad.
About 63% identified as Black or African American.
Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1900 or 1940 censuses.
Zacharie
The 2010 census had a total of 205 people with the last name Zacharie. We’ve seen two other spelling variations of this name earlier.
About 65% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, three people named Zacharie were documented as black.
In the 1900 U.S. census, 33 people of this name were documented as black.
Zewdu
The 2010 census had a total of 196 people with the last name Zewdu.
About 98% identified as Black or African American.
Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1900 or 1940 censuses.
Zegeye
The 2010 census had a total of 182 people with the last name Zegeye.
About 92% identified as Black or African American.
Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1900 or 1940 censuses.
Zewde
The 2010 census had a total of 167 people with the last name Zewde.
About 94% identified as Black or African American.
Nobody of this name was documented as black in the 1900 or 1940 censuses.
Zellous
The 2010 census had a total of 151 people with the last name Zellous.
About 88% identified as Black or African American.
In the 1940 U.S. census, 12 people named Zellous were documented as black.
However, there were no black holders of the name in the 1900 U.S. census.
