African Last Names

You name is your identity but your last name gives a reflection of your background. It tells people about your family, dynasty, clan or ancestors. But holding a surname is a very important aspect of a persons life. Every country and state has a different way of keeping a surname and have different concepts behind their thinking. Some consider their fathers name more important and some claim their dynasty. Well, in this article we are going to discuss about the African last names and their way of understanding the value and importance of keeping an African surname. So let's start with the history and the thought process behind the whole concept.

About African Last Names

Africans used to live in colonies and clans and hence they give a lot of importance to their tribe or clan while adopting a surname. Traditional African last names are mostly their clan's names or are derived from their clan names. Some people keep their ancestral names and some even carry their father's name but a clan name is considered more important than having any other surname. Like any other culture or country, African women also change their surname after getting married, but they still belong to their father's clan and use it with a feminine prefix. Let's take an examples of popular African last name of the former South African president Nelson Mandela. His full name was Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. Nelson is a western name, Rolihlahla is an African name and Mandela is derived from his clan, Madiba.

South African last names have a totally unique story. This is because many people from West Africa, India, Madagascar, Indonesia etc. were brought to South Africa as slaves. The surnames which were hard to pronounce and write were changed by the rulers according to their convenience. Some used their owners' surnames, some got their surnames according to the month and day they came to South Africa. There were many women who had babies from the whites. In these cases the child was given a surname of his mother or father or may be a third surname. Hence we can say that South Africa has a mixture of last names including West African last names, Indian last names, etc. So, we can say that there are no such African last names and meanings. The last names are just to give a glimpse of some sort of identity. Apart from the description given above many people have their own way of adopting their surnames.

Most Common African Last Names

Here are some of the African last names from the different sources available. The African surnames are given in an alphabetical order. This is not the complete list but we have tried to bring most of the surnames to your notice. Just have a look.

A

    * Azikiwe
    * Awolowo
    * Akintola
    * Alamieyeseigha
    * Asari-Dokubo
    * Anikulapo-Kuti
    * Anenih
    * Akinjide
    * Akinyemi
    * Akiloye
    * Adeyemi
    * Adesida
    * Amaechi
    * Ayim
    * Akpabio
    * Attah
    * Akunyili
    * Adesina
    * Adeoye
    * Alakija
    * Akenzua
    * Akerele
    * Ademola
    * Aguda
    * Achebe

B

    * Bello
    * Balewa
    * Babangida
    * Buhari
    * Bamgboshe
    * Biobaku
    * Bankole
    * Balogun
    * Boro
    * Bah
    * Ballo

C

    * Chukwumereije
    * Chahine
    * Cisse
    * Congo
    * Contee
    * Conteh

D

    * Dimka
    * Diya
    * Danjuma
    * Dia
    * Diallo
    * Diop

E

    * Effiong
    * Ezekwesili
    * Eze
    * Egwu
    * Ekwensi

F

    * Falana
    * Fagbure
    * Fall
    * Fofana

G

    * Gbadamosi
    * Gaxa
    * Gowon
    * Gueye

H

    * Henyekane

I

    * Ibori
    * Igbinedion
    * Iwu
    * Ironsi
    * Iweala
    * Igwe

J

    * Jomo-Gbomo
    * Jang
    * Jakande
    * Jaja
    * Jalloh

K

    * Kalejaiye
    * Kalu
    * Kone
    * Keita
    * Khune

L

    * Letsholonyane

M

    * Magoro
    * Madaki
    * Mbanefo
    * Mbadinuju
    * Maalouf
    * Mensah
    * Mandela
    * Modise

N

    * Nzeogwu
    * Nnamani
    * Ngige
    * Ndiaye
    * Nwosu

O

    * Okotie-Eboh
    * Onwuatuegwu
    * Okafor
    * Okereke
    * Okeke
    * Okonkwo
    * Okoye
    * Okorie
    * Obasanjo
    * Okar
    * Odili
    * Omehia
    * Okadigbo
    * Ojukwu
    * Okonjo
    * Olanrewaju
    * Oyinlola
    * Oyenusi
    * Onyejekwe
    * Onwudiwe
    * Obi
    * Orji
    * Ohakim
    * Okilo
    * Okiro
    * Onobanjo
    * Okpara
    * Okoro
    * Osei
    * Owusu

P

    * Pattison
    * Pienaar
    * Parker

S

    * Sekibo
    * Soyinka
    * Solarin
    * Saro-Wiwa
    * Sall
    * Sane
    * Sarr
    * Sesay
    * Sow
    * Sy
    * Sylla

T

    * Tinibu
    * Toure
    * Traore
    * Turay

U

    * Uba

X

    * Xulu

Y

    * Yeboah
    * Yar'Adua

Z

    * Zuma

The complex African surnames or the last names given in this article remind me of a quote given by Diego Maradona, "My surname is not a burden for me. It might be for others, but not for me." Exactly, no matter how complex or how difficult our surnames are to pronounce or write, they are actually our identity. So by this we come to an end of the African last names. Whatever may be the method of finding the surname or adopting it for some reason, the main idea behind it is to give a person an identity of his background.