50+ interesting African last names/surnames and their meanings

Publish date: 2024-08-05

Surnames provide a great bridge to the family's past because they are passed from generation to another. African last names have reflective and unique meanings.

Common African last names are a reflection of a person's tribe. During the naming process, parents tend to confine themselves within cultural lines. As such, someone's name is likely to tell you more about his country of origin and tribe.

African last names

Africa is the second-largest continent on earth with an equally large population. Apart from a significant fraction of the northern section of Africa, most people on the continent are black.

Africans are further divided into numerous tribes, sub-tribes, and clans, which is evident from their cultural diversity. This tells you why Nigerian surnames are completely different from those from South Africa. Here are some of the most common African surnames and their meanings.

Nigerian last names

Nigeria has numerous tribes, including the Igbo and Yoruba people. Therefore, the list of African surnames here consists of Yoruba as well as Igbo last names.

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Ancient Egyptian last names

Egypt is one of the countries in the northern part of Africa. The country has about 90% Muslims and 10% Christians. Here are common Egyptian last names.

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Native Ethiopian last names

Ethiopian surnames are popular among the natives of that particular country. The county has several tribes, and these names vary from one tribe to the other. Every Ethiopian last name has a meaning. Here are some of them with their meanings.

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South African last names

South Africa, like the name suggests, is a country on the southern side of the continent. Like most African countries, South Africa has many tribes. Here are some unique South African surnames.

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Ghanaian last names

Ghana is another West African country known for its rich cultures. Here is a list of Ghana last names.

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Kenyan last names

Kenya is a country on the eastern side of the African continent. The country has about 42 tribes. Here are some of the surnames you will find in Kenya.

Swahili last names

Swahili is a language commonly spoken in Kenya and Tanzania. It is believed that it came about because of the intermarriage between the coastal Bantus and the Arab travellers. Check below for common Swahili surnames.

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African American last names

African American surnames have also gained popularity. Here are some of the most common African American last names.

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There you have it! These are some of the most famous African last names you will come across. There are plenty more of them, though.

READ ALSO: Cool warrior names for girls and boys

Legit.ng recently published an article on cool warrior names for boys and girls. Kids who bear warrior names usually grow with a strong character demonstrating strength, vigour, courage, and exceptional ability to conquer certain life situations.

If you want to see warrior-like traits in your children, it would be imperative to choose the right names. The article gives several names to choose from.

Source: Legit.ng

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