African Submitted Surnames
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
AGBAJENigerian, YorubaMeaning unknown. A bearer is
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (1967-), an English actor and model of Yoruba Nigerian descent.
AGUIgboAgu is an Igbo surname; the word Agu means Tiger in Igobo language.
AÏTBerber, Northern AfricanDerived from Tamazight ⴰⵢⵜ
(aït) meaning "son", also commonly used a component for compound names and surnames.
AKYEAMPONGAfricanAkan name from Ghana. It means the one who gives birth to princes. Mostly spelt Acheampong mainly to make life easy for Europeans, however that spelling is wrong because there is no "c" in the Akan or Twi alphabet...
[more] ALBAZJewish, Northern AfricanAshkenazic Jewish name meaning, "falconer" found mainly amongst Jewish peoples emigrating from Algeria and Morocco.
AMIDANENorthern African, Arabic (Maghrebi)Meaning unknown; used by the native Sahrawi people of the disputed region of Western Sahara. Two known bearers are El Wali Amidane (1986-) and Elkouria Amidane (1985-), both Sahrawi human rights activists.
AZOULAYJudeo-Spanish, Northern AfricanSephardic Jewish surname of disputed meaning; it may be derived from French
azur or Spanish
azul both meaning "blue" (of Persian origin), from Tamazight
izîl meaning "good, pure, sublime", or from an acronym of the Hebrew Biblical passage אִשָּׁ֨ה זֹנָ֤ה וַחֲלָלָה֙ לֹ֣א יִקָּ֔חוּ
(’iš-šāh zō-nāh wa-ḥă-lā-lāh lō yiq-qā-ḥū) meaning "They shall not take a wife that is a whore, or profane".
BARRYAfricanA Guinean surname meaning the family comes from the Peul, Fulani, or Foulbe ethnic groups of West Africa.
BOLAJINigerianThis surname is very common in Nigeria. Possibly taken from a word in one of the Nigerian tribes languages.
BOUHOUCHEBerber, Northern AfricanKabyle name possibly derived from Arabic أَبُو
(ʾabū) meaning "father" and حَوْش
(ḥawš) meaning "courtyard, enclosure, farm" (chiefly Algerian).
BOUJETTIFNorthern African (Archaic)Meaning, "The family of the son of the Clever Head" or "One Whom Possess a Clever Head."
Bou (normally used in the North African Regions of the Maghrib Countries) has 2 possible derivative meanings both originating from the Arabic language, "Son of..." or an Arabic word
Tho meaning, "One Who Possess A Quality."
Jettif is a variance of
Jettef,
Jeif or
Ji'f which is derived from the ancient Tamazight or Imazighen (popularly known as Berber) and is pronounced "j-ixf" which means Clever, head, or brain."
CHAMAPIWAShonaChamapiwa means "that which you have been given".
It is a call to appreciate that which you have from God CHENAIShonaChenai means "Be clean, be hygienic or come out clean"
CILLIËRSAfrikaansBrought to South Africa by settlers of French decent some time in the past 300 years. Sometimes also a given name for boys.
COULIBALYWestern African, MandingMeaning uncertain. One popular folk etymology suggests that it is derived from Bambara
kulun-bari meaning "without a canoe", referring to someone who crossed a river or other body of water without the use of a canoe...
[more] DAMBUDZOShonaDambudzo means "that which causes suffering or trouble". #The Zimbabwean writer, Dambudzo Marechera is a famous bearer of this name".
DIALLOWestern AfricanA common name throughout West Africa, it is the French transcription of a surname of Fula origin.
DJOKOTOAfricanfrom Togo Lome, Vogan in west Africa from the djokoto family.
DUBENdebele, ZuluIt means Zebra. It is usually a surname instead of a person's name used by Zimbabwean Ndebele people and South African Zulu people....
[more] EJIOFORIgbo, NigerianA famous bearer of this surname is Chiwetel Ejiofor, a British actor of Nigerian and Igbo descent.
ENGELBRECHTAfrikaansThe name Engelbrecht has multiple translations, including "Angle Glorious" and "Bright Angel".
ETIENAMNigerian, Ibibio (?), Spanish (Caribbean, ?)This is a name which originates from the Calabar/Akwa Ibom region of southeastern Nigeria. It means "a doer of good, or benevolent". It is also found in Spanish-speaking regions of the Caribbean such as Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, and Cuba (El Oriente) which have populations of people of Ibibio/Efik decent known as "Carabali".
GADDAFIArabic (Maghrebi), Northern AfricanFrom the name of an Libyan Berber tribe named
Qadhadhfa, possibly meaning "thrower, archer" from Arabic قَذَفَ
(qaḏafa) meaning "to throw". A famous bearer was
Muammar Gaddafi (1942–2011), a Libyan politician and revolutionary.
GRIGAHCINEBerber (Rare, ?)Meaning unknown, perhaps of Kabyle origin. A known bearer is DJ Snake, who was born
William Grigahcine (1986-), an Algerian-French musician.
IWUCHUKWUIgbo, AfricanIt means God's covenant is unwavering. This name is a bearer is a testimony of God's command. This ia a Christian name.
JEYIShonaPorcupine. Wamambo. Strong, Courageous, Joyful and loving.
JLASSIArabic (Maghrebi), BerberFrom the name of an Tamazight (Berber) tribal confederation in Tunisia; the name could be from Arabic إِخْلَاص
(ʾiḵlāṣ) meaning "sincerity, devotion, loyalty" or of unknown Berber meaning.
JOOFSererThe surname Joof (English spelling in Gambia) whit its derivatives Juuf / Juf (Seereer proper) or Diouf (French spelling in Senegal and Mauritania) is a Senegambian surname found amongst the Seereer people of Senegal, the Gambia and Mauritania...
[more] LOUWAfrikaansLouw is a surname that has pre 7th century Germanic origins. It is a Dutch/Flemish variant on the word Lowe, meaning Lion.
MAHALAHAfricanzambian (tumbuka) name meaning intelligent. "mwana wa mahalah" means intelligent child
MAOULOUDWestern AfricanDerived from Arabic مولود
(mawlud) meaning "born, newborn", used to refer to the مولد
(Mawlid) observance of the birth of the Islamic Prophet
Muhammad (chiefly Mauritanian).
MAZIGHArabic (Maghrebi), BerberDerived from Arabic أَمَازِيغ
(ʾamāzīḡ) the Arabic designation for the Berber (Amazigh) people of North Africa. The word itself is ultimately of Tamazight origin, from Central Atlas Tamazight ⴰⵎⴰⵣⵉⵖ
(Amaziɣ) of disputed meaning; in modern Central Atlas Tamazight, it means “free-man”.
M'BARECKWestern AfricanDerived from Arabic مُبَارَك
(mubārak) meaning "blessed, fortunate, lucky" (chiefly Mauritanian).
MBOTOAfricanLast name of a character from Australian soap opera, Home and Away. This is the last name of character Stephanie Mboto, duration 1996-97.
MESSIAfrican, Arabic, ItalianFamous bearer of this surname is Lionel Messi (born 1987-), an Argentinian footballer of Italian descent.
MUFAROShonaMufaro means "Joy, happiness".
It is a name of rejoicing MWEUSHIAfricansalute to a king or chief spokesman.literally means "your excellency" or "your majesty". and is usually followed by another name and not used alone.
ODERASAKYoruba (Rare)It is Yoruba mispronunciation of the the name Oscar. It was a middle name that became a last name.
ODIGEFrench, AfricanA Name from french Odige (O.DI Zeouf) zeouf with means egg Zeouf is spelled as ge to shorten the name. This surname means fighter The French has been known to be Lovely and the language of love un-violent...
[more] ODOEMENENigerianOdoemene roots from Nigeria. It has branched onward to America, and multiple other countries. It literally means 'yellow reluctance' in Igbo.
OLATUNJIYoruba"Olatunji" is a Yoruba surname and a given name meaning "Wealth awakes again".
ONAIShonaOnai means "See, observe". #It is a name that calls the hearer to see or observe that which happened".
OYINVWIUrhoboA name from the history of the urhobo culture. It's been noted that the name indicate strength and is the name attached to it. The important vice of the tradition. Leads trivial matters in hope for liberty.
POPOOLAYoruba"The way of the rich man" or "The way of prosperity"
RAMADHANISwahili, IndonesianFrom Arabic رَمَضَان
(ramaḍān), the name of the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and a period of fasting for Muslims.
SAYYIDSwahili, MuslimFrom the Arabic honourific title سَيِّد
(sayyid) which means "master, lord, prince, mister".
SHARIFBengali (Muslim), Urdu, Punjabi, Kashmiri, Indian (Muslim), Persian, Arabic, SomaliFrom the Arabic title شَرِيف
(šarīf) meaning "noble, honoured, excellent", denoting a Muslim ruler, religious leader, or descendant of
Muhammad.
TAFARAShonaTafara means "We are happy or we rejoice".
It is a name of rejoicing TAMAZIGHTBerber, Northern AfricanDerived from ⵜⴰⵎⴰⵣⵉⵗⵜ
(Tamaziɣt), the Berber (Amazigh) name for the collective Berber language family used in North Africa.
TAWANDAShonaTawanda means "We have increased or multiplied". #It is a name acknowledging the birth of a child as an increase to the family".
TERSOOTivMeans, "father's love". Has its history from Tiv origin. Its a common name amongst the Tiv people of Nigeria.
THERONSouth African, OccitanSouth African surname of Occitan origin derived from any of the various locations named
Théron or
Thérond. The name itself is ultimately from Proto-Indo-European
*tur- or Latin
torus/
thorus meaning "height, elevation"...
[more] TINETARIROShonaTinetariro means "We have hope".
Usually given to declare that we have our hope in God.
TONDERAIShonaTonderai means "Remember".
This name is given as a call to remember a particular event or to remember one's origins.
UMBURTERTivMeans, "Remember the father". Father also used in the context of God.
VAN DER MERWEDutch, South AfricanWhile the name is currently very common in South Africa, it originates in Holland, literally meaning "From the Merwe". The first van der Merwes hail from the Merwede river. The name went to South Africa with the Dutch settlers in 1652.
VAN NIEKERKAfrikaans, Southern AfricanTopographic name for any of the various locations named Nieuwerkerk in The Netherlands or Nieuwerkerken in Belgium. The name itself means "of the new church" from Dutch
van meaning "of" combined with
nieuw meaning "new" and
kerk meaning "church".
VAN ROOYENAfrikaansvan Rooyen related to
van Rooijen, is an Afrikaans and Dutch toponymic surname. May be rooted from the Rhine area of the Netherlands, possibly having meant "from Rhine" originally. Now a fairly common surname through out South Africa after being brought to Southern Africa by Dutch settlers over the past 300 years, often with variations on spelling but said in the same or a similar way.