Eastern African Submitted Surnames

Eastern African names include those from Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. See also about African names.
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Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Abebe Amharic, Ethiopian
Means "flower" in Amharic.
Abukar Somali
Of Somali origin and means "father of the unique".
Adamu Amharic, Swahili, Hausa
From the given name Adamu (see user-submitted name).
Aguer Dinka
the name was mainly given to boys of the Dinka tribe ,mainly in the Upper Nile state of South Sudan. meaning is unknown but is synonymous with "tree"
Ahamada Comorian
From the given name Ahamada.
Ahishakiye Rwandan
AHISHAKIYE is a both male (most) and female name which means "Whenever God want" and is originally from Rwanda. It is a familiar name in the East African countries speaking Kinyarwanda and Kirundi such as Rwanda, Uganda, RDC, Burundi and Tanzania... [more]
Ahmedin Amharic
From the given name Ahmedin.
Akello Eastern African
A Lou surname that originates from the name of a male ancestor, Okello or Akello. The ancestor was so named as he was a child born after the birth of twins. Lou personal names were given based on a circumstance of birth.
Akiiki Tooro, Nyoro, Alur, Acholi
The pet name of Elizabeth of Toro.
Alhassan Arabic, Somali, Urdu
From the given name Al-Hasan.
Amani Tigrinya
From the given name Amani (see user-submitted name) meaning "faith" in Tigrinya. It is possibly related to Arabic Iman or Swahili Imani, also meaning "faith".
Archangel Eastern African
From the given name Archangel.
Arjwana Eastern African
Eastern African
Axmed Somali
Somali form of Ahmed.
Baraki Ethiopian, Amharic
From the given name Baraki, meaning "one who blesses" in Amharic. It is possibly related to Arabic Barak 2 and Hebrew Baruch, also meaning "blessed".
Beerale Somali
The surname "Beerale" in Somali means "farmer" or "agriculturist." It refers to someone involved in farming or agricultural activities.
Beernabad Somali
Beer" means farm, and "Nabad" means peace.
Ben Ali Arabic (Maghrebi), Comorian
Maghrebi transcription of Arabic بن علي (bin Ali) meaning "son of Ali 1". A notable bearer was Zine El Abidine Ben Ali (1936-2019), who served as the president of Tunisia from 1987 to 2011.
Buuro Somali
From the Somali language,Buur meaning "mountain".
Chepchumba Kalenjin
Matronymic surname meaning "daughter of Chumba".
Dawit Ge'ez, Amharic
From the given name Dawit.
Deressa Eastern African, Amharic
From the given name Deressa.
Deresse Amharic, Ethiopian
From the given name Deresse or Deressa.
Doonle Somali
The surname "Doonle" can be interpreted as "the one who seeks" or "the seeker." This reflects a meaningful characteristic of pursuit and exploration. The name is derived from the Somali word "doon," which means "to seek" or "to want." Additionally, "doon" also translates to "boat," symbolizing the journey and exploration of new horizons.
Dualeh Somali
Meaning unknown.
Duqbeer Somali
Duqbeer would translate to "old farm" in Somali.
Ganacsade Somali
Meaning "businessperson" or "entrepreneur." It is often used to refer to someone involved in trade or commerce.
Guddi Somali
Woodworker
Haile Ethiopian
Meaning "power" or "might".
Harun Arabic, Somali, Urdu, Bengali
From the given name Harun.
Hassani Persian, Arabic, Swahili
From the given name Hassan.
Hawa Arabic, Somali, Urdu, Bengali
From the given name Hawa.
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).
Kansiime Kiga
The surname of a certain Anne.
Khalif Somali
Somali form of Khalifa.
Kihoro Kikuyu
Of uncertain Meaning.
Kilonzo Eastern African
Meaning unknown.
Kindiki Meru, Eastern African
Kindiki has no known meaning.
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.
Kubwa Swahili
From Swahili meaning "large".
Lebna Ethiopian
Means "spirit, essence" in Amharic.
Ledama Maasai
Of uncertain meaning.
Luyimbazi Eastern African
This name is given to males belonging to 'Nkima' (Monkey) clan in Buganda kingdom, Uganda.
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.
Makonnen Eastern African, Amharic
Derived from the given name Makonnen.
Maxamed Somali
Somali form of Muhammad.
Mbabazi Eastern African
A Bantu Uganda surname meaning 'grace' or 'kindness'.
Mbaya Swahili
From Swahili meaning "ugly".
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.
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".
Mikal Ethiopian
The Origin of Mikal comes from the Hebrew meaning... [more]
Mlima Swahili
From Swahili meaning "mountain".
Mrefu Swahili
From Swahili meaning "tall, long".
Munisi Eastern African
Found in Tanzania.
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.
Muziki Swahili
From Swahili meaning "music". Possibly an occupational name for a musician.
Nkurunziza Eastern African
Burundian surname meaning "good news". It is also the most common surname in the country.
Noor Arabic, Urdu, Somali, Bengali, Persian
Variant transcription of Nur.
Nuur Arabic, Somali
From the given name Nuur.
Nyasi Swahili
From Swahili meaning "grass, grassland".
Nyong’o Luo
Best known as the surname of a certain Lupita.
Odhiambo Eastern African, Luo
East African surname derived from the given name Odhiambo meaning “born in the evening”.
Osas Somali
Variant of Ossas
Ramogi Luo
Meaning unknown.
Said Arabic, Somali, Urdu
From the given name Sa'id.
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.
Siangla Luo, Eastern African
Meaning unavailable.
Sinema Haitian Creole, Swahili, Turkish
The name Ireally doesI mean "Movie Theater" ("Cinema"). Other related words: "Picture, Charades, Bilet."
Slaa Eastern African, Iraqw
Slaa has an unknown meaning.
Suruma Kiga
Suruma is a Kiga surname. Ezra Suruma is a notable person with that surname.
Tasifa Amharic
Means “hope” in Amharic.
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.
Tumas Arabic, Somali, Urdu
From the given name Tumas.
Ugas Somali
From the given name Ugas.
Uwimana Rwandan, Eastern African
Means "belongs to God"
Yacob Amharic
From the given name Yacob.
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.
Yudas Indonesian, Swahili
From the given name Yudas.
Yusuf Arabic, Somali, Urdu, Bengali
From the given name Yusuf.
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