<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
  <headerData>
    <submissionType>144</submissionType>
    <filerInfo>
      <filer>
        <filerCredentials>
          <cik>0001243370</cik>
          <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
        </filerCredentials>
      </filer>
      <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>



    </filerInfo>
  </headerData>
  <formData>
    <issuerInfo>
      <issuerCik>0001090009</issuerCik>
      <issuerName>SOUTHERN FIRST BANCSHARES INC</issuerName>
      <secFileNumber>000-27719</secFileNumber>
      <issuerAddress>
        <com:street1>6 VERDAE BOULEVARD</com:street1>
        <com:city>GREENVILLE</com:city>
        <com:stateOrCountry>SC</com:stateOrCountry>
        <com:zipCode>29607</com:zipCode>
      </issuerAddress>
      <issuerContactPhone>8646799000</issuerContactPhone>
      <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>SEAVER R ARTHUR JR</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
      <relationshipsToIssuer>
        <relationshipToIssuer>Officer</relationshipToIssuer>
      </relationshipsToIssuer>
    </issuerInfo>
    <securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <name>Wells Fargo Clearing Services</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>1 North Jefferson Avenue</com:street1>
          <com:city>St. Louis</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>MO</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>63103</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
      <noOfUnitsSold>10000</noOfUnitsSold>
      <aggregateMarketValue>549951.30</aggregateMarketValue>
      <noOfUnitsOutstanding>8189177</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <approxSaleDate>12/15/2025</approxSaleDate>
      <securitiesExchangeName>Nasdaq</securitiesExchangeName>
    </securitiesInformation>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>01/15/2022</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Stock options</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>500</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>01/15/2022</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>check</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>01/16/2022</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Stock options</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>625</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>01/16/2022</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>check</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>01/19/2022</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Stock options</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>500</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>01/19/2022</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>check</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>01/21/2022</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Stock options</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>625</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>01/21/2022</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>check</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>01/18/2023</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Stock options</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>500</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>01/18/2023</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>check</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>01/19/2023</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Stock options</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>332</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>01/19/2023</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>check</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>01/21/2023</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Stock options</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>625</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>01/21/2023</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>check</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>12/15/2025</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Stock options</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>6293</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>12/15/2025</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>check</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <noticeSignature>
      <noticeDate>12/15/2025</noticeDate>
      <signature>R Arthur Seaver, Jr.</signature>
    </noticeSignature>
  </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
