<?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 N. Jefferson Ave.</com:street1>
          <com:city>St. Louis</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>MO</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>63103</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
      <noOfUnitsSold>2500</noOfUnitsSold>
      <aggregateMarketValue>77519.74</aggregateMarketValue>
      <noOfUnitsOutstanding>8156109</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <approxSaleDate>03/14/2024</approxSaleDate>
      <securitiesExchangeName>Nasdaq</securitiesExchangeName>
    </securitiesInformation>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>01/19/2018</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Stock Option Award</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>1250</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>01/19/2018</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Check</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>01/19/2020</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Stock Option Award</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>1250</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>01/19/2020</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Check</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <noticeSignature>
      <noticeDate>03/14/2024</noticeDate>
      <signature>Arthur R. Seaver Jr.</signature>
    </noticeSignature>
  </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
[{"type": "144", "sequence": "1", "filename": "primary_doc.xml", "secsgml_size_bytes": 3245}]
144
0001243370
XXXXXXXX
LIVE
0001090009
SOUTHERN FIRST BANCSHARES INC
000-27719
6 VERDAE BOULEVARD
GREENVILLE
SC
29607
8646799000
SEAVER R ARTHUR JR
Officer
Common
Wells Fargo Clearing Services
1 N. Jefferson Ave.
St. Louis
MO
63103
2500
77519.74
8156109
03/14/2024
Nasdaq
Common
01/19/2018
Stock Option Award
Issuer
N
1250
01/19/2018
Check
Common
01/19/2020
Stock Option Award
Issuer
N
1250
01/19/2020
Check
Y
03/14/2024
Arthur R. Seaver Jr.