An English and Scottish surname, the Black family name refers to an individual with dark hair or dark complexioned. Also someone who dyes cloth black or dark colored. The Old English words were ‘blaec’ or ‘blak’ or ‘blaca’, all meaning dark colored. The Gaelic word of ‘dubh’ also meant black.

Other spellings for the surname Black are Blacke, Blakey and Blake.

Within England most with the Black surname live in London, and the northeastern regions, especially in Northumberland, Durham and Lancashire. In Scotland, the Black families live along the eastern and western coasts.

In the United States those with the Black surname live primarily in Illinois, New York Ohio, Texas and Pennsylvania.


Famous: Joseph Black (18th century Scottish chemist), Karen Black (actress), Stanley Black (musician and composer), James Black (creator of the Bowie knife), George Black (19th century shipbuilder of Canada), David MacLeod Black (South African poet), John Black (18th century ship captain and privateer) and Robert Black (musician and conductor).