-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 URB+HulhO+fQx7iYu28W+K3uN6dV3Uy/UHetBgLEiyNhZ0Cz8xrbh8B1HOO5kIMP
 lBpQ/J6HaxcD4eZppYZ5KQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001264127-03-000001.txt : 20030918
<SEC-HEADER>0001264127-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20030918
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030918135035
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001264127-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030819
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030918

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MICHAEL P RUCKER FBO RUCKER FAMILY TRUST
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001264127

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-22836
		FILM NUMBER:		03901050

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1003 W CENTENNIAL DR
		CITY:			PEORIA
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			61614-2828

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SOUTHERN FINANCIAL BANCORP INC /VA/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000914789
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SAVINGS INSTITUTION, FEDERALLY CHARTERED [6035]
		IRS NUMBER:				541779978
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			VA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		37 EAST MAIN ST
		CITY:			WARRENTON
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			20186
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5403493900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		37 EAST MAIN ST
		CITY:			WARRENTON
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			22186

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	SOUTHERN FINANCIAL FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19931116
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-08-19</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000914789</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SOUTHERN FINANCIAL BANCORP INC /VA/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>sffb</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001264127</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MICHAEL P RUCKER FBO RUCKER FAMILY TRUST</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1003 W CENTENNIAL DR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PEORIA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>61614-2828</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Southern Financial Bankshares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-08-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2003-08-19</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>34.8</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Trustee</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>



    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Michael P. Rucker</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-09-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----