-----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,
 JCX0WXa02zKbCy90o/S4pLA04Tz0SXo67nHMsApKYNsOLTdhepYd6hYXZta1yFu/
 xLpT8jOznPHROLS97H10hw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001090009-11-000008.txt : 20110222
<SEC-HEADER>0001090009-11-000008.hdr.sgml : 20110221
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20110222123640
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001090009-11-000008
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20110216
FILED AS OF DATE:		20110222
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20110222

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STURGIS WILLIAM B
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001098695

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-27719
		FILM NUMBER:		11627476

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1805 LAURENS ROAD
		CITY:			GREENVILLE
		STATE:			SC
		ZIP:			29607

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:		100 VERDAE BOULEVARD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 100
		CITY:			GREENVILLE
		STATE:			SC
		ZIP:			29607
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8646799000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 VERDAE BOULEVARD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 100
		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>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-02-16</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001098695</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STURGIS WILLIAM B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>P.O. BOX 17465</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>SC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>29606</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-02-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>350</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.641</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>60144</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>William B. Sturgis, /s/Julie A. Fairchild, POA</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-02-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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