African Surnames

African names are used on the continent of Africa, covering a wide number of languages. See also about African names.
usage
Abiodun Western African, Yoruba
From the given name Abiodun.
Abioye Western African, Yoruba
From the given name Abioye.
Adebayo Western African, Yoruba
From the given name Adebayo.
Afolabi Western African, Yoruba
From the given name Afolabi.
Afolayan Western African, Yoruba
Means "walks like a wealthy person, walks with confidence" in Yoruba.
Ayodele Western African, Yoruba
From the given name Ayodele.
Botha Southern African, Afrikaans
South African variant of Both.
Idowu Western African, Yoruba
From the given name Idowu.
Ihejirika Western African, Igbo
Means "the one that I have is greater" in Igbo.
Kamau Eastern African, Kikuyu
Derived from the given name Kamau.
Kariuki Eastern African, Kikuyu
Derived from the given name Kariuki.
Kayode Western African, Yoruba
From the given name Kayode.
Kenyatta Eastern African, Kikuyu
From kinyata, the name of a type of ornamental belt worn by the Maasai. This was the surname of the first president of Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta (1897-1978). He adopted the surname in his youth.
Maina Eastern African, Kikuyu
Derived from the given name Maina.
Mwangi Eastern African, Kikuyu
Derived from the given name Mwangi.
Obama Eastern African, Luo
From a rare Luo given name meaning "crooked, bent". It was possibly originally given to a baby who had an arm or leg that looked slightly bent immediately after birth or who was born in the breech position.
Okafor Western African, Igbo
From the given name Okafor.
Okeke Western African, Igbo
From the given name Okeke.
Okonkwo Western African, Igbo
From the given name Okonkwo.
Okorie Western African, Igbo
From the given name Okorie.
Opeyemi Western African, Yoruba
From the given name Opeyemi.
Otieno Eastern African, Luo
Derived from the given name Otieno.
Pretorius Southern African, Afrikaans
From Latin praetor meaning "leader". This name was adopted in the 17th century by Wesselius Praetorius as a Latin translation of his previous surname Schulte. It is now common in South Africa.