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.
Sawadogo Mossi
Not available.
Sayyid Swahili, Muslim
From the Arabic honourific title سَيِّد (sayyid) which means "master, lord, prince, mister".
Schutte Dutch, Low German, South African
Variant of (Schütte), an occupational name for an archer.
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.
Senesie Western African
Kissi surname of unknown meaning.
Sesay African, Temne, Loko, Limba, Kuranko
Is a Muslim Surname from Sierra Leone. It is used among many tribes.
Shettima Kanuri, Nigerian
Meaning unknown.
Shikongo African
Potentially means "people's leader". Prevalent in Nambia.
Shirima African
Common in Tanzania
Shitu Nigerian
Related to Shittu.
Siangla Luo, Eastern African
Meaning unavailable.
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.
Sirleaf Western African
Altered form of Sheriff (a predominantly Mandinka Muslim surname, itself a variant of Sharif).
Sithole Southern African, Zulu
Derived from Zulu isithole meaning "heifer".
Slaa Eastern African, Iraqw
Slaa has an unknown meaning.
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.
Sow Western African, Fula
Meaning uncertain.
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.
Sullubawa Hausa
The Hausa transliteration of a noted Fulani Clan coming from the Bilād as-Sūdān region of West Africa.
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.
Swanepoel Afrikaans, Dutch (Rare)
From the place name Zwaenepoel "swan pool".
Swart Afrikaans
Means "black" in Afrikaans
Sylla Manding, Western African
Susu surname of unknown meaning.
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.
Tarawele Manding
The original variant of Traoré.
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.
Tombura Zande, Central African
Tombura is of unknown etymology.
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".
Tshabalala African, Zulu, South African
Means "shooting star"
Tshibuabua Central African
A notable bearer is Martin Tshibuabua, a soccer player.
Tshireletso Tswana
From the given name meaning "protection" in Setswana.
Tumas Arabic, Somali, Urdu
From the given name Tumas.
Tweneboa Akan
Meaning unknown.
Ugas Somali
From the given name Ugas.
Umburter Tiv
Means, "Remember the father". Father also used in the context of God.
Upamecano French (African), Manding (Gallicized)
A very rare French surname with African roots.
Urio Chaga, Eastern African
Of unknown meaning.
Uthman Nigerian
From the given name Uthman.
Uwem Ibibio, Efik, Anang
Meaning "Life". It originates from the Efik, Ibibio and Anang tribes of Cross River state, Nigeria which has now been divided with the Ibibios and Anang people in the newly formed Akwa Ibom state. Other variations of the name are: Uwemedimo meaning "life is wealth" and Nkereuwem meaning "my name is life"
Uwimana Rwandan, Eastern African
Means "belongs to God"
Uys Afrikaans
Of uncertain origin and meaning. Theories include an Afrikaans variant of Huijs which seems to have developed into Uijs and finally into Uys.
Uzochukwu Igbo
Meaning "god's way".
Van Der Merwe Dutch, South African
Means "from the Merwe", Merwe being an older form of Merwede, the name of a river in the Netherlands. It derives from meri "lake, sea" and widu "wood"... [more]
Van Deventer Dutch, South African
Means "from Deventer", a city in the Netherlands.
van Niekerk Afrikaans
Topographic 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 Reenen Dutch, South African
Means "from Rhenen", the name of a city in Utrecht, Netherlands. Possibly derived from Proto-Germanic *hraini "clean, pure", or from Rijn "the Rhine (river)" combined with Old Dutch hem "home, settlement".
Van Rooyen Afrikaans
van 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... [more]
Verwey Dutch, Afrikaans, South African
Contracted form of van der Weij meaning "from the meadow".
Vimbai Shona
Vimbai means "Have hope, trust". It is a call to have hope or to trust in
Vonai Shona
It is a form of the Shona name Onai.
Vongai Shona
Vongai means "be thankful, or appreciative".
Wadzanai Shona
Wadzanai means "Have fellowship, visit each other, be on good terms". The name may be given as a call to family to come together in fellowship, visiting and being on good terms
Wajoli African
Swahili Word mjoli. Swahili Plural wajoli. English Word fellow servant.
Wepener South African, German
South African, German decent/history
Wessels Dutch, South African
Patronymic from the given name Wessel.
Wiredu Akan
Meaning unknown.
Wonai Shona
It is a form of the Shona name Onai.
Wongai Shona
It is a form of the Shona name Vongai
Yacob Amharic
From the given name Yacob.
Yacouba Western African
From the given name Yacouba.
Yahaya Western African, Comorian
From the given name Yahaya.
Yako African, Swahili, Xhosa
Derived from bantu yakho meaning "yours" or "yours alone" in Xhosa. It is implying a sense of possession or ownership. This surname may have an association with someone or something that belongs to them exclusively.
Yaya Western African
From the given name Yaya.
Yeukai Shona
Yeukai means "Remember". This name is given as a call to remember a particular event or to remember one's origins.
Youssouf Western African
From the given name Youssouf.
Yudas Indonesian, Swahili
From the given name Yudas.
Yusuf Arabic, Somali, Urdu, Bengali
From the given name Yusuf.
Zadzisai Shona
Zadzisai means "you must fulfil - a pledge or promise". The name is given as a reminder to fulfil a pledge or promise.
Zammit Berber, Northern African
Tunisian Berber name of unknown meaning.
Zanamwe Southern African
Zimbabwean Surname, originally from the Chivi area, shona speaking people of the Shumba(lion) totem originate from the Masvingo province, Mwenezi, Chitanga,Chikombedzi, Boli Chibwedziva. Some migrated to the Mashonaland East province Mhondoro area and assumed the Moyo(heart) totem
Zaouche Berber, Northern African
Kabyle name of unknown meaning.
Zeghlache Berber, Northern African
Kabyle surname of unknown meaning.
Zeidane Western African
Mauritanian variant of Zidane.
Zemmour Berber
Derived from Tamazight azemmur meaning "olive".
Zerhouni Arabic (Maghrebi), Northern African, Berber
Possibly refers to the Zerhoun mountain in Morocco. The family name originates from the city of Nedroma in Tlemcen, Algeria.
Zeroual Arabic (Maghrebi), Berber
Nickname for a person with blue eyes from Berber aẓerwal meaning "blue".
Zivai Shona
Zivai means "you must know".
Zivanai Shona
Zivanai means "You must know each other". #This name is a call to family and relatives to get to know each other by visiting and fellowship - usually so that they do not drift apart"
Zomou Manding
Etymology unknown.
Zororo Shona
Zororo means "rest". It may be given to mean that the parent has rested after the birth of this child. Zimbabwean politician Zororo Duri was a well known bearer of this name.
Zoundeiko Central African
Of uncertain meaning.
Zulum Kanuri, Nigerian
Derived from the Arabic Salim.
Zuva Shona
Zuva means "sun or day".
Zvaitika Shona
Zvaitika means "It has happened". This name may be given as a celebration that something that was desired or awaited has finally happened.