<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001090009-23-000004.txt : 20230119
<SEC-HEADER>0001090009-23-000004.hdr.sgml : 20230119
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20230119075018
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001090009-23-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20230117
FILED AS OF DATE:		20230119
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20230119

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Aiken William M. III
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001918017

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-27719
		FILM NUMBER:		23535940

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 17465
		CITY:			GREENVILLE
		STATE:			SC
		ZIP:			29606

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SOUTHERN FIRST BANCSHARES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001090009
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		IRS NUMBER:				582459561
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			SC
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6 VERDAE BOULEVARD
		CITY:			GREENVILLE
		STATE:			SC
		ZIP:			29607
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8646799000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6 VERDAE BOULEVARD
		CITY:			GREENVILLE
		STATE:			SC
		ZIP:			29607

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	GREENVILLE FIRST BANCSHARES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19990707
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2023-01-17</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001090009</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SOUTHERN FIRST BANCSHARES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SFST</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001918017</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Aiken William M. III</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>PO BOX 17465</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>SC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>29606</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Risk Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2023-01-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6800</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On January 17, 2023, Mr. Aiken was awarded 2,000 shares of restricted stock under the Southern First Bancshares, Inc. 2020 Equity Incentive Plan.  Of the 2,000 shares of restricted stock, 1,000 shares vests equally over four years, and 1,000 shares vests in totality after five years.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>William M. Aiken, III, /s/Julie A. Fairchild, POA</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2023-01-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
