African Submitted Surnames

African names are used in various places on the continent of Africa. See also about African names.
usage
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Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Mufaro Shona
Mufaro means "Joy, happiness". It is a name of rejoicing
Munisi Eastern African
Found in Tanzania.
Mushohwe Shona
Meaning unknown.
Mutia Eastern African, Maasai
A Kenyan Maasai surname known mostly in the West as the name of a certain fictitious escarpment, which appears infrequently in old Tarzan Films.
Muzorewa Shona
Meaning unknown.
Mwaruwari Shona
Meaning unknown.
Mweushi African
salute to a king or chief spokesman.literally means "your excellency" or "your majesty". and is usually followed by another name and not used alone.
Naidoo South African, Indian (Expatriate)
Variant of Naidu used by South Africans of Indian descent.
N’dri Western African (Rare)
The meaning behind N’Dri is “ Nearby the river “
Nenge Tiv
Means, "see".
Nengomasha Shona
Meaning unknown.
Niang Western African, Wolof
Refers to a member of the Deme, a Wolof clan whose symbol is the donkey.
Njie African
It means path finder. It is an African surname only 11 people in the UK have this surname
Nkrumah Western African
It is of Akan origin meaning "Great".
Noor Arabic, Urdu, Somali, Bengali, Persian
Variant transcription of Nur.
Nshimirimana Central African
Means "I thank God" in Burundian.
Nua African
Means "second daughter" in African.
Nuur Arabic, Somali
From the given name Nuur.
Nwankwo Igbo
From the given name Nwankwo.
Nyong’o Luo
Best known as the surname of a certain Lupita.
Oderasak Yoruba (Rare)
It is Yoruba mispronunciation of the the name Oscar. It was a middle name that became a last name.
Odhiambo Eastern African, Luo
East African surname derived from the given name Odhiambo meaning “born in the evening”.
Odige French, African
A 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]
Odoemene Nigerian
Odoemene roots from Nigeria. It has branched onward to America, and multiple other countries. It literally means 'yellow reluctance' in Igbo.
Ogyampah Akan
Meaning unknown.
Okoturo Nigerian
A surname most popular in Nigeria; meaning currently unknown.
Olatunji Yoruba
"Olatunji" is a Yoruba surname and a given name meaning "Wealth awakes again".
Onai Shona
Onai means "See, observe". #It is a name that calls the hearer to see or observe that which happened".
Ongai Shona
It is a form of the Shona name Vongai.
Onyilogwu Nigerian (Rare), Igbo (Rare)
Possibly means "he who is invulnerable to dark magic" in Igbo.
Oosthuizen South African
Came from a village in the Dutch province of North Holland.
Orelias Nigerian (Latinized, Modern, Rare), Italian (Tuscan), Venetian
Means "golden", when coupled with a first name becomes "the golden". Varied from Orelia, "golden".... [more]
Osas Somali
Variant of Ossas
Osei Western African
Very popular surname in Ghana.
Osy Nigerian
From Imo, Nigeria
Ouahmed Berber, Northern African
Kabyle name meaning "son of Ahmed", from the Berber prefix ou- meaning "son (of)" combined with the Arabic name Ahmed (chiefly Algerian).
Oubeid Western African
Mauritanian variant of Obeid (see Ubayd).
Ouyahia Berber, Northern African
Means "son of Yahia", from the Berber prefix ou- meaning "son (of)" combined with the Arabic given name Yahia (chiefly Algerian).
Owo Nigerian
From the given name Owo.
Owusu Western African, Akan
Means "strong-willed, determined" in Akan.
Ọyáwálé Yoruba, Nigerian
Means "the river goddess came home" in Yoruba.
Oyiakwan Akan
Meaning unknown.
Oyinvwi Urhobo
A 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.
Phukuntsi Tswana, Sotho
This surname has multilayered meanings... [more]
Pienaar Afrikaans
Afrikaans form of French Pinard.
Popoola Yoruba
"The way of the rich man" or "The way of prosperity"
Prinsloo Afrikaans
Prinsloo is an Afrikaans surname. The name is derived from the dutch word Prins (meaning prince), and a loo suffix meaning clearing in the forest. Variant spellings include Prinzloo and Prinslo.
Quartey Western African, Ga
Ga surname of unknown meaning.
Rajkoomar Mauritian Creole, South African
Variant of Rajkumar used by Mauritian and South African Indians.
Rangarirai Shona
Rangarirai means "Remember, think over, consider".
Retief Afrikaans
Afrikaans form of Rétif.
Rufaro Shona
It is a form of the Shona name Mufaro.
Said Arabic, Somali, Urdu
From the given name Sa'id.
Sakyi Akan
Meaning unknown.
Sarpei Akan
Meaning unknown.
Sayyid Swahili, Muslim
From the Arabic honourific title سَيِّد (sayyid) which means "master, lord, prince, mister".
Selassie Ethiopian, Amharic, Western African
Possibly means "trinity" in Amharic. A notable bearer was Haile Selassie (1892-1975), the regent and emperor of Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974.
Sesay African, Temne, Loko, Limba, Kuranko
Is a Muslim Surname from Sierra Leone. It is used among many tribes.
Shitu Nigerian
Related to Shittu.
Siaw Akan
Meaning unknown.
Siddig Northern African, Arabic
Derived from Arabic صَدِيق (ṣadīq) meaning "friend" (chiefly Sudanese).
Sika Akan
Meaning unknown.
Sinema Haitian Creole, Swahili, Turkish
The name Ireally doesI mean "Movie Theater" ("Cinema"). Other related words: "Picture, Charades, Bilet."
Siriboe Akan
Meaning unknown.
Snyman Afrikaans
Afrikaans version of the German surname Schneider, which is German for tailor.
Soueidi Western African
Mainly found in Mauritania.
Soueilem Western African
Meaning unknown—this surname is mainly found in Mauritania.
Steenbok Afrikaans, Dutch
Dutch and Afrikaans form of Steinbock.
Steyn Afrikaans
Derived from Old Dutch stēn "stone" referring ot a (bowl) stone or a weapon made of stone or rock.
Sunga Bemba, Central African
Sunga is a surname of the Bemba tribe, meaning "a person that takes care of others".... [more]
Suruma Kiga
Suruma is a Kiga surname. Ezra Suruma is a notable person with that surname.
Tafara Shona
Tafara means "We are happy or we rejoice". It is a name of rejoicing
Takyi Akan
Meaning unknown.
Tamazight Berber, Northern African
Derived from ⵜⴰⵎⴰⵣⵉⵗⵜ (Tamaziɣt), the Berber (Amazigh) name for the collective Berber language family used in North Africa.
Tangara Western African, Manding
Malian Bambara surname of unknown meaning.
Tasifa Amharic
Means “hope” in Amharic.
Tawanda Shona
Tawanda means "We have increased or multiplied". #It is a name acknowledging the birth of a child as an increase to the family".
Tersoo Tiv
Means, "father's love". Has its history from Tiv origin. Its a common name amongst the Tiv people of Nigeria.
Tesfamariam Ethiopian
Meaning "Mary hope", from 'tesifa' (hope), and 'mariyami' (Mary).
Tesfaye Amharic, Ethiopian
From the given name Tesfaye.
Teshome Eastern African, Amharic
From the given name Teshome.
Theron Southern African, Afrikaans, Occitan
Habitational name for someone from any of various locations in Occitanie named Théron or Thérond, ultimately from Latin torus meaning "elevation, height, embankment". A famous bearer is South African and American actress Charlize Theron (1975-).
Tinetariro Shona
Tinetariro means "We have hope". Usually given to declare that we have our hope in God.
Tonderai Shona
Tonderai means "Remember". This name is given as a call to remember a particular event or to remember one's origins.
Touré Western African
Probably derived from tùùré meaning "elephant" in the Soninké language.
Traoré Western African, Manding
Francization of Manding Tarawele, which is of uncertain etymology. It was originally used by 13th-century Malian warrior Tiramakhan and possibly means "going to call it".
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