African Submitted Surnames

African names are used on the continent of Africa, covering a wide number of languages. See also about African names.
usage
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
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.
Kambonde Southern African
Common in Namibia especially.
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, South African, Jewish
Means "cat", a habitational name for someone who lived by a sign depicting a cat, or a nickname for someone who somehow resembled a cat, perhaps in agility or an independent nature.
Katamba Bemba
A surname of the Bemba tribe meaning "small wave". To the Lozi tribe, it means "fishing net".
Khalif Somali
Somali form of Khalifa.
Khumalo Zulu, Ndebele, South African
Zulu and Ndebele clan name meaning "descendant of the fish tribe".
Kihoro Kikuyu
Of uncertain Meaning.
Killmonger African
The name (last name) of the villain in Black Panther, played by Michael B. Jordan.
Kilonzo Eastern African
Meaning unknown.
Kimba Luba
Best known as the international given name of a certain Tezuka character.
Kindiki Meru, Eastern African
Kindiki has no known meaning.
Kingibe Kanuri, Nigerian
Meaning unavailable.
Kitsusu Kongo
The surname of a notable Congolese musician whose real first name was Philemon.
Kitumaini Central African, Swahili
Means "little hope" in Swahili, a diminutive of tumaini meaning simply "hope". It is mostly found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
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.
Kongo Kongo
From Kongo meaning "hunter". This surname could also be from places named "Kongo".
Konkwo Igbo
"Boy born on Nkwo"
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]
Krestos Ge'ez
Ge'ez form from Greek given name Christos 1, used as a surname of several Ethiopian emperors.
Kuban Northern African, Nubian
Unknown Nubian surname.
Kubwa Swahili
From Swahili meaning "large".
Kyagumbo Shona
Meaning unknown.
Kyei African
Ghanaian surname that is derived from the Akan language. It means "greatness" or "to become great" in English.
Kyekyeku Akan
Meaning unknown.
Lebna Ethiopian
Means "spirit, essence" in Amharic.
Ledama Maasai
Of uncertain meaning.
Ledwaba Southern African, South African, Zulu
From Zulu meaning "rock".
Limo African
Most common in Kenya.
Lombard French, English, South African
French and English cognate of Lombardi, or derived from the given name Lambert. A famous bearer of this name was the American actress Carole Lombard (1908-1942), born Jane Alice Peters.
Londo Western African
Kissi surname of unknown meaning.
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
Mahamadou Western African
From the given name Mahamadou.
Mahlangu Southern African, Ndebele, Zulu
Derived from Ndebele hlangula meaning "assist, help, remove (from danger)" or Zulu isihlangu meaning "shield".
Majange Shona
Meaning unknown.
Makélélé Central African, Lingala (Gallicized)
Gallicized form of Makelele. A notable bearer is the French former soccer player Claude Makélélé (1973-).
Makelele Central African, Lingala
Means "noises" in Lingala, possibly a nickname for a noisy person.
Makonnen Eastern African, Amharic
Derived from the given name Makonnen.
Mamadou Western African
From the given name Mamadou.
Mambo Southern African
Mambo is a surname of the Kaonde tribe, meaning: danger. A warning to would be detractors.
Mané Western African, Manding
From the name of a Mandinka clan, meaning uncertain.
Manu Western African, Akan
Means "second-born child" in Akan.
Maouloud Western African
Derived 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).
Masiye Chewa
Means "orphan" in Chewa language.
Masondo Southern African, Zulu
Derived from Zulu amasondo meaning "wheels".
Mathema Ndebele
The Mathema people mostly inhabit the Northern Matebeleland in Zimbabwe, however their clan names are linked and related of those other Nguni clans. These are as follows: ... [more]
Mathema Shona
Meaning unknown.
Mawere Shona
Meaning unknown.
Maxamed Somali
Somali form of Muhammad.
Mazigh Arabic (Maghrebi), Berber
Derived 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”.
Mbabazi Eastern African
A Bantu Uganda surname meaning 'grace' or 'kindness'.
M'bala Central African
Derived from the given name Mbala. This surname is borne by French comedian, actor and political activist Dieudonné M'bala M'bala (1966-).
Mbangwa Shona
Meaning unknown.
Mbappé Central African (Gallicized)
Borne by French professional footballer Kylian Mbappé (1998-), whose father is from Cameroon.
M'Bareck Western African
Derived from Arabic مُبَارَك (mubārak) meaning "blessed, fortunate, lucky" (chiefly Mauritanian).
Mbarek Berber
Moroccan Tachelhit variant of Mubarak.
Mbaya Swahili
From Swahili meaning "ugly".
M'Beirick Western African
Most likely a variant of M'Bareck.
Mbenguzana Hlubi (?), African
Hlubi word referring to an old cat with grey beard but in this instance it means grey-bearded leopard. Originates from one of the Nkwali tribe's early head?king Lusulengwe(Leopard's face)
Mbili African, Swahili, Zulu
From Swahili and Zulu meaning "two" or "second". It is possible that an ancestor of an individual with this surname was the second child of their parents.
Mbili Central African
Derived from a village in Cameroon named "Bambili".
Mbini Xhosa
Xhosa form of Mbili.
Mboto African
Last name of a character from Australian soap opera, Home and Away. This is the last name of character Stephanie Mboto, duration 1996-97.
Meghnagi Jewish, Northern African
Sephardic Jewish, originating from the Libyan Jewish community. Most were from Tripoli, with a much smaller contingent from Benghazi.
Melaku Ethiopian, Amharic
From the given name Melaku, meaning "the angel" in Amharic. It is possibly related to Arabic/Hebrew Malak and Turkish Melek 2, also meaning "angel".
Melker Dutch, Swedish (Rare), Afrikaans
Derived from Dutch melker "milker (one who milks)". In some cases, however, it can also be derived from the given name Melchior.
Mensah Western African, Akan
Means "third-born son" in Akan.
Messoud Western African
From the given name Mas'ud; used in Mauritania.
Meziane Berber, Northern African
From the given name Meziane (chiefly Algerian and Moroccan).
Mikal Ethiopian
The Origin of Mikal comes from the Hebrew meaning... [more]
Mikel English, Nigerian
From the given name Mikel.
Mirghani Northern African, Arabic
Sudanese name of unknown Arabic meaning.
Mkerref Berber (Modern, Rare)
Mkerref originated from the 1950s in Tangier, Morocco. The surname is rare and its holders have riffian (amazigh) roots, known as the Temsamanis originally. ... [more]
Mlima Swahili
From Swahili meaning "mountain".
Mohamadou Western African
From the given name Mohamadou.
Mokoena Southern African, Sotho, Tswana
Derived from Sotho or Tswana kwena meaning "crocodile".