African Submitted Surnames

African names are used in various places on the continent of Africa. See also about African names.
usage
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Ejiofor Western African, Igbo
Means "one who acts in good faith" in Igbo. A famous bearer is British actor Chiwetel Ejiofor (1977-).
El Bechir Western African
Means "the Bechir", derived from the given name Bashir. This surname is mainly used in Mauritania.
Elhassan Northern African, Arabic
From Arabic حَسُنَ (ḥasuna) meaning "to be good, to be beautiful" (chiefly Sudanese).
Elmalik Northern African, Arabic
From Arabic الْمَالِك (al-mālik) meaning "the king" or "the owner" (chiefly Sudanese).
El Moctar Western African
Derived from the given Moctar, a variant of Mokhtar. A bearer is Jidou El Moctar (1985–), a Mauritanian runner.
Elyas Ethiopian, Filipino, Malay
Form of Elias, latinized version of the Hebrew Eliyahu, "My God is Yahweh", found in Ethiopian, Filipino and Malay populations. See also the first names Elias, Elijah.
Emanuel English, German, Welsh, Jewish, African
From the given name Emanuel.
Engelbrecht Afrikaans
The name Engelbrecht has multiple translations, including "Angle Glorious" and "Bright Angel".
Esterhuizen Southern African, Afrikaans
Habitational name of French origin, denoting a person from Estreux, a commune in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France.
Etienam Nigerian, 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".
Fahnbulleh Western African
Means "bold and strong" in Liberian.
Farai Shona
Farai means "Rejoice, be happy".
Fourie Afrikaans
Originates from French Huguenot settlers
Gaya African
African spelling, surname form, and variant spelling of Gaia. It is the 18,784th most frequently used surname in the world. It is borne by approximately 1 in 246,879 people... [more]
Grigahcine Berber (Rare, ?)
Meaning unknown, perhaps of Kabyle origin. A known bearer is DJ Snake, who was born William Grigahcine (1986-), an Algerian-French musician.
Gurira Southern African, Shona
From the Ndau word gurira meaning "to break or cut for someone, cut short, take shortcut". The American-Zimbabwean actress and playwright Danai Gurira (1978-) is a famous bearer of this name.
Gwinyai Shona
Gwinyai means "be strong".
Gyasi Akan
Meaning unknown.
Habyarimana Central African
Variant spelling of Havyarimana. This surname was borne by assassinated Rwandan president Juvénal Habyarimana (1937-1994).
Haile Ethiopian
Meaning "power" or "might".
Hakizimana Central African
Means "God cures" in Burundian and Rwandan.
Haliche Berber, Northern African
Variant transcription of Halliche.
Halliche Berber, Northern African
Kabyle surname of unknown meaning.
Hamadache Berber, Northern African
Kabyle surname derived from the Arabic given name Hamada.
Harun Arabic, Somali, Urdu, Bengali
From the given name Harun.
Haruna Hausa, Fula
From the given name Haruna 2.
Hassani Persian, Arabic, Swahili
From the given name Hassan.
Hatendi Shona
Meaning unknown.
Havyarimana Central African
Means "God gives birth" in Burundian and Rwandan.
Hawa Arabic, Somali, Urdu, Bengali
From the given name Hawa.
Human English (African), South African
Occupational name for a Hugh-man.
Husaini Persian, Afghan, Urdu, Arabic, Bengali, Hausa
From the given name Husayn.
Iduh Nigerian
Iduh surname occurs mainly in Africa, of the Idoma people of Benue state, Nigeria.
Igwe Igbo
Means "sky".
Ihekweme Igbo
Name used mostly by South Eastern Nigerians
Ilunga Luba, Central African
Means ‘To Unite’.
Iman Arabic, Urdu, Somali, Bengali, Persian
From the given name Iman.
Irakoze Central African
Means "thank god" in Burundian and Rwandan.
Isheanesu Shona
Isheanesu means "The Lord is with us".
Iwuchukwu Igbo, African
It means God's covenant is unwavering. This name is a bearer is a testimony of God's command. This ia a Christian name.
Izem Berber, Northern African
From the given name Izem, directly taken from the Tamazight word ⵉⵣⴻⵎ (izem) meaning "lion".
Jalloh Western African
Probably a derivative of Arabic Jalil.
Jedou Western African
Found in Mauritania.
Jericho African
Directly taken from the place name Jericho.
Jeyi Shona
Porcupine. Wamambo. Strong, Courageous, Joyful and loving.
Jlassi Arabic (Maghrebi), Berber
From 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.
Joof Serer
The 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]
Jozi Hlubi (?), African
A Hlubi word referring to a sword or spear mkonto,mkhonto,lerumo
Juma Swahili, Arabic
From the given name Juma.
Kahinu Eastern African, Ge'ez, Amharic, Tigrinya, Swahili, Somali, Malagasy
Means "clergyman" in several Eastern African languages, originally denoting someone who was a clergyman (see the given name Kahinu).
Kalaba African, Southern African, Tonga
Means "forgetful person".
Kamara Western African
Used in Sierra Leone.
Kanazoé Mossi
Not available.
Kansiime Kiga
The surname of a certain Anne.
Kasongo Central African
A Congolese surname derived from the town with the same name, located in the Maniema Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Kat Dutch, Frisian, Afrikaans, Jewish
Means "Cat" in Dutch, Frisian, and Afrikaans, perhaps originally a nickname for someone who owned a cat or somehow resembled a cat.
Khalif Somali
Somali form of Khalifa.
Khumalo Zulu, Ndebele, South African
Zulu and Ndebele clan name meaning "descendant of the fish tribe".
Killmonger African
The name (last name) of the villain in Black Panther, played by Michael B. Jordan.
Kimba Luba
Best known as the international given name of a certain Tezuka character.
Kitsusu Kongo
The surname of a notable Congolese musician whose real first name was Philemon.
Kodjo Ewe
From the given name Kodjo
Koffi Ewe
From the given name Koffi
Kofi Akan
From the given name Kofi
Komboïgo Mossi
Not available.
Kporaro Nigerian (Rare)
The name Kporaro translates into the English language as "PROGRESS" (literally Kpo which is "Go", Ra which is "OF" and Aro which is "FRONT" in which case the Ra implies "For" or "Of" thus Kporaro is literally "Go Of Front" or more properly "Move Forward")... [more]
Kyagumbo Shona
Meaning unknown.
Kyekyeku Akan
Meaning unknown.
Lebna Ethiopian
Means "spirit, essence" in Amharic.
Ledwaba Southern African, South African, Zulu
From Zulu meaning "rock".
Limo African
Most common in Kenya.
Louw Afrikaans
Louw is a surname that has pre 7th century Germanic origins. It is a Dutch/Flemish variant on the word Lowe, meaning Lion.
Luyimbazi Eastern African
This name is given to males belonging to 'Nkima' (Monkey) clan in Buganda kingdom, Uganda.
Lynx Southern African, English
Meaning "lynx" in English.
Madhubuti Swahili
A notable bearer is Haki R. Madhubuti, a writer.
Magombo Swahili, African, Swazi (Rare)
Meaning unknown, possibly related from the fore name of the same name. It means "leaves" (verb) in Swahili.
Mahalah African
zambian (tumbuka) name meaning intelligent. "mwana wa mahalah" means intelligent child
Majange Shona
Meaning unknown.
Makonnen Eastern African, Amharic
Derived from the given name Makonnen.