Western African Submitted Surnames

Western African names include those from Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. See also about African names.
usage
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Abakar Western African
From the given name Abakar.
Abdellahi Western African, Wolof
From the given name Abdellah (chiefly Mauritanian).
Abdoulaye Western African
From the given name Abdoulaye.
Abimbola Yoruba
From the given name Abimbola
Aboah Akan
Meaning unknown.
Aboubacar Western African
From the given name Aboubacar.
Aboubakar Western African
From the given name Aboubakar.
Achampong Western African
Variant of the Ashanti surname Acheamphong, meaning "destined for greatness".
Acheamphong Western African (?)
Could mean "destined for greatness"
Adamou Western African
From the given name Adamou.
Adamu Amharic, Swahili, Hausa
From the given name Adamu (see user-submitted name).
Adebowale Yoruba
From the given name Adebowale
Adedeji Yoruba
Means "one crown has become two" in Yoruba.
Adefope Nigerian, Western African
Best known as the surname of a British comedienne.
Adegoke Yoruba
From the given name Adegoke
Adelakun Yoruba
From the given name Adelakun
Ademola Yoruba
From the given name Ademola
Adesanya Yoruba
Literally means "the crown avenges my suffering".
Adesina Yoruba
From the given name Adesina
Adewale Yoruba
From the given name Adewale.
Adisa Yoruba
From the given name Adisa
Agbaje Nigerian, Yoruba
Meaning unknown. A bearer is Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (1967-), an English actor and model of Yoruba Nigerian descent.
Agrinya Nigerian (Rare)
Means "warrior" in the Nigerian language of Yala. It was an earned name.
Agu Igbo
Agu is an Igbo surname; the word Agu means Tiger in Igobo language.
Agumanu Igbo, Trinidadian Creole
its an last name and first name that comes from an Igbo tribe in Trinidad
Agyare Akan
Meaning unknown.
Agyei Akan
Meaning unknown.
Ahmat Western African
From the given name Ahmat.
Akinnuoye Western African, Yoruba
Means "chief warrior" in Yoruba. A famous bearer is English actor Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (1967-).
Alioune Western African
From the given name Alioune.
Amadou Western African
From the given name Amadou.
Amankona Akan
Meaning unknown.
Amissah Akan
Meaning unknown.
Annan Western African, Akan
Means "fourth-born child" in Akan.
Antetokounmpo Western African, Yoruba (Hellenized)
Hellenized form of Adetokunbo. This name is borne by the Greek-Nigerian basketball player Giannis Antetokounmpo (1994-), as well as his brothers Thanasis (1992-), Kostas (1997-) and Alex Antetokounmpo (2001-), also noted basketball players.
Archibong Efik, Ibibio
of Efik Origin, originally pronounced asibong but changed by the british to Archibong, meaning Kings Father, Kings Friend, (amasi Obong)
Asamoah Western African, Akan
From the given name Asamoah. A famous bearer is the retired Ghanaian soccer player Kwadwo Asamoah (1988-).
Asante Western African, Akan
From the ethnic name of the Ashanti, a sub-ethnic group of the Akan from southern Ghana. The name possibly means "warlike" in the Twi language.
Azi Afizere
Azi is actually pronounced Azīh which means "Unending, in ended father of many generations" it is named after children believed to become the origin or source of lasting families.
Azubuike Igbo
From the given name Azubuike.
Baba Nigerian, Yoruba, Western African
From an honourific title used to denote a father, wise man, or an elder.
Baeta Ewe
Best known as the maiden surname of a certain Annie.
Baffoe Western African, Akan
Ghanaian surname of unknown meaning.
Bah Fula (Anglicized)
A surname of Fulani origin found all over Western Africa. French speaking African countries typically spell this surname as Ba or .
Boakye Akan
Meaning unknown.
Boateng Western African, Akan
Means "someone who is humble to God" in Akan. This is among the most common surnames in Ghana. Famous bearers include half-brothers Jérôme (1988-) and Kevin-Prince Boateng (1987-), both of whom are German soccer players.
Bolaji Nigerian
This surname is very common in Nigeria. Possibly taken from a word in one of the Nigerian tribes languages.
Boubacar Western African
From the given name Boubacar.
Boushab Western African
Used in Mauritania.
Ceesay Western African, Manding
Gambian surname of Mandinka origin, which originally indicated a descendant of a marabout, i.e. a West African Muslim teacher and religious leader.... [more]
Chérif Arabic (Maghrebi), Western African
Form of Sharif used in North Africa and parts of French-influenced western Africa.
Chukwu Igbo
From the given name Chukwu.
Cissé Western African, Manding (Gallicized)
Variant of Ceesay used in parts of French-influenced western Africa.
Coulibaly Western African, Manding
Francization of Bambara kulu bari meaning "without a canoe", referring to someone who crossed a river or another body of water without the use of a canoe.
Dabie Akan (Latinized, Modern)
Dabie was originally from the Bono people of Ghana and it is portrayed as a royal name amongst the people. Many individuals who have inherited this name are Chiefs. It's meaning is someone who's a Warrior.
Dambe Hausa, Western African
Given from a martial art from the Hausa people.
Darego Nigerian (Rare)
Meaning unknown.
Dauda Hausa
From the given name Dauda.
Diallo Western African
A common name throughout West Africa, it is the French transcription of a surname of Fula origin.
Diop Western African, Wolof
From Joob, the name of a Wolof clan, derived from a totemic word meaning "black craned swan" or "peacock".
Dorkenoo Akan
Meaning unknown.
Doucouré Western African, Soninke
Meaning uncertain.
Dwamena Akan
Meaning unknown.
Dzata Ewe, Western African
From Ewe meaning "warrior".
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.
El Moctar Western African
Derived from the given Moctar, a variant of Mokhtar. A bearer is Jidou El Moctar (1985–), a Mauritanian runner.
Essien Western African, Akan, Ibibio, Efik
Means "sixth born child" in Akan, possibly deriving from the given name Nsia. As a Nigerian name it is derived from a given name (found among the Ibibio and Efik people) denoting the son the family lineage depends on, possibly meaning either "a child who belongs to everyone" or "the child who takes charge of outside matters"... [more]
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.
Gyasi Akan
Meaning unknown.
Hamadou Western African
From the given name Hamadou.
Hamidou Western African
From the given name Hamidou.
Harouna Western African
From the given name Harouna.
Haruna Hausa, Fula
From the given name Haruna 2.
Hassane Western African
From the given name Hassane.
Husaini Persian, Afghan, Urdu, Arabic, Bengali, Hausa
From the given name Husayn.
Idriss Western African
From the given name Idriss.
Idrissa Western African
From the given name Idrissa.
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
Issaka Western African
From the given name Issaka.
Issoufou Western African
From the given name Issoufou.
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.
Jalloh Western African
Probably a derivative of Arabic Jalil.
Jedou Western African
Found in Mauritania.
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]
Kamara Western African
Used in Sierra Leone.
Kanazoé Mossi
Not available.
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]
Kyekyeku Akan
Meaning unknown.
Mahamadou Western African
From the given name Mahamadou.
Malick Indian, Bengali, Pakistani, Western African
From the Arabic ملك (malik) meaning "king, sovereign, monarch" (see Malik 1), used by Indian Hindus and Muslims.
Mamadou Western African
From the given name Mamadou.
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).
M'bareck Western African
Derived from Arabic مُبَارَك (mubārak) meaning "blessed, fortunate, lucky" (chiefly Mauritanian).
M'beirick Western African
Most likely a variant of M’Bareck.
Mensah Western African, Akan
Means "third-born son" in Akan.
Messoud Western African
From the given name Mas'ud; used in Mauritania.
Mikel English, Nigerian
From the given name Mikel.
Mohamadou Western African
From the given name Mohamadou.
Moustapha Western African
From the given name Moustapha.
N’dri Western African (Rare)
The meaning behind N’Dri is “ Nearby the river “
Nenge Tiv
Means, "see".
Niang Western African, Wolof
Refers to a member of the Deme, a Wolof clan whose symbol is the donkey.
Nkrumah Western African
It is of Akan origin meaning "Great".
Nogo Mossi
Not available.
Nwankwo Igbo
From the given name Nwankwo.
Oderasak Yoruba (Rare)
It is Yoruba mispronunciation of the the name Oscar. It was a middle name that became a last name.
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".
Onyilogwu Nigerian (Rare), Igbo (Rare)
Possibly means "he who is invulnerable to dark magic" in Igbo.
Orelias Nigerian (Latinized, Modern, Rare), Italian (Tuscan), Venetian
Means "golden", when coupled with a first name becomes "the golden". Varied from Orelia, "golden".... [more]
Osei Western African
Very popular surname in Ghana.
Osy Nigerian
From Imo, Nigeria
Ouattara Western African, Manding
From the name of the Wattara or Watara clan of the Dyula people, believed to be derived from a word meaning "prince".
Oubeid Western African
Mauritanian variant of Obeid (see Ubayd).
Oumarou Western African
From the given name Oumarou.
Ousman Western African
From the given name Ousman.
Ousmane Western African
From the given name Ousmane.
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.
Popoola Yoruba
"The way of the rich man" or "The way of prosperity"