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Nigeria, or officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. Inhabited by more than 250 ethnic groups, this multinational state has a wide variety of cultures speaking over 500 distinct languages. As Africa is made up of 54 countries, its naming systems are incredibly diverse. Tribal, colonial, cultural, and linguistic influences have a part to play in the evolution of surnames in society. Before the coming of the colonialists, from the 1860s, there were no surnames in most parts of Nigeria until their colonizers imposed them. Given names were, therefore, adopted in local languages as surnames. While African last names gained in popularity around the globe, they particularly spread all throughout the United States and Europe due to the slave trade forced upon African colonies.
In West African culture, words evoke power, and certain names generate significant energy. Just as names define an individual, last names form the base of the narrative. Nigerian family names usually trace the origin of the families, clan, or even the religious group they belong to, and they reflect the background as well. Thus, Nigerian last names have a rich history and tradition that come from indigenous, colonialist, and diasporic roots. Popular Nigerian last names are either based on the aspirations of a parent about their child’s future, related to God or have a religious connotation. Given below are the best Nigerian surnames that give one their identity, help claim ownership to a community or family, and maintain the Nigerian naming culture to date.
100 Unique Nigerian Surnames or Family Names With Meanings
This compilation of common Nigerian last names with relevant meanings will come to your aid when you’re looking for a suitable surname for your little one.
1. Abara
This surname of Igbo origin means ‘spirit’.
2. Abdullah
This surname of Arabic origin means ‘the one who follows God’ or ‘the servant of God’.
3. Abiola
Abiola has a Yoruba origin, and it means ‘born in honour and wealth’.
4. Abimbola
This surname of Yoruba origin means ‘to be born wealthy’.
5. Abubakar
This is one of the popular last names of Yoruba origin; it means ‘noble’.
6. Adebayo
This Yoruba surname means ‘the crown meets joy’.
7. Abdullahi
A variation of the Arabic personal name Abdullah, this last name means ‘the servant of God’.
8. Adesina
This surname of Yoruba origin is apt for a long-awaited child. It means ‘crown opens the way’.
9. Aguta
This surname means ‘laughter’.
10. Aku
This surname of Igbo origin represents ‘wealth’.
11. Bolaji
Bolaji is a Yoruba name meaning ‘Wake up with wealth’.
12. Balogun
The name means ‘meet at war’ or ‘warlord’ in Yoruba.
13. Babangida
This Nigerian surname means ‘The master of the house’ or ‘firstborn son’.
14. Bello
Derived from Latin Bellus, this surname of Spanish origin means ‘handsome’.
15. Bankole
Derived from Yoruba origin, the name means ‘help build my house’.
16. Baba
Baba is an honorific term of Persian origin, and it means ‘father, grandfather, wise old man, sir’. It also means ‘the first born’.
17. Bennet
This is an Anglo-Norman English surname with Norman roots. Bennet comes from Benedict that is derived from Latin Benedictus, meaning ‘blessed’.
18. Bassey
Bassey means ‘God’ in the Efik language of Nigeria.
19. Chris
The name has a Greek origin, and it means ‘bearing Christ’.
20. Chukwu
This surname of Igbo Origin means ‘God’, ‘spiritual being’, and ‘great’.
21. Dambe
The name “Dambe” derives from the word boxe, and appears in Bole language as Dembe. It is a form of martial art of the Hausa people from West Africa.
22. Danjuma
Used mainly by the African-Hausatribe, this surname means ‘son of Friday’.
23. Dauda
This West African surname creates a mind that is ‘beloved’.
24. Ejiofor
Derived from the Igbo tribe, this surname means ‘one who acts in good faith’.
25. Etienam
Originating from the Calabar and Alwa Ibom regions of southeastern Nigeria, Etienam means ‘a doer of good’ or ‘benevolent’.
26. Eesuola
This surname of Yoruba origin means ‘to have a lot of wealth’.
27. Egbe
This surname of Yoruba origin means ‘kite’.
28. Emem
This African surname means ‘peace’ in Ibibo.
29. Eze
This surname of Igbo origin is a title of respect. It means ‘King’.
30. Falade
This is one of the unique African surnames of Yoruba origin, and it means ‘Oracle is the crown’.
31. Folorunsho
This surname of Yoruba origin means ‘under God’s protection’.
32. Gbadamosi
This name of Nigerian origin surname means ‘Introspective and philosophical’.
33. Guh
This surname of Hebrew origin means ‘Gift of God’.
34. Hassan
This surname of Arabic origin means ‘handsome’ or ‘strong and manly’.
35. Ibeh
This surname of Igbo origin means ‘In one’s relation as a friend, family or acquaintance’.
36. Igwe
Derived from Edoid language, Igwe means ‘Sky or heaven.’ It is a title of honour.
37. Igbinedion
This surname of Benin origin means ‘seeking refuge in elder’s protection’.
38. Ihejirika
This Igbo surname means ‘the one that I have is greater’.
39. Ikande
This surname means ‘someone who is full of love’.
40. Ibrahim
It means ‘Father of many’ in Hebrew.
41. Iwuchukwu
This Christian surname of Igbo tribe means ‘God’s covenant is unwavering’.
42. Jacob
Derived from Late Latin Jacobus, from Greek Iakovos, from Hebrew (Yaʿqob), Jacob means ‘seizing by the heel’, ‘supplanting’.
43. Jimoh
Derived from African Swahili, Jimoh is a form of Jumah, which means ‘born on Friday’ or ‘the congregation’.
44. Konkwo
Konkwo means ‘born on Nkwo’ in Igbo, as Nkwo is one of the days of the Igbo week.
45. Kalu
This surname of Igbo origin means ‘God of Thunder’.
46. Kikelomo
This surname of Yoruba origin means ‘a child who should be pampered or cherished’.
47. Kazah
This surname of Arabic origin means ‘the origin of light’.
48. Kanye
This surname belonging to the Igbo tribe means ‘let’s give’ or ‘to give honour or tribute’. It is also a Yoruba surname referring to ‘next in line in chieftaincy’.
49. Kporaro
Kpo is ‘Go’, Ra means ‘Of’, and Aro means ‘Front’, so this Nigerian surname means ‘The person at the front’.
50. Kolawole
Found in Atlantic-Niger Africa region, Kolawole means ‘wealth’.
51. Lawal
This surname of Arabic origin means ‘first’.
52. Musa
Musa is a name of Arabic or Turkish origin based on the name Moses. It means ‘saved from the water’.
53. Mohammed
This surname has Arabic origins, and it means ‘praised’, ‘commendable’, ‘laudable’.
54. Mmeremikwu
This surname of Igbo origin means ‘to be better’ or ‘to be higher’
55. Mustapha
This Arabic surname means ‘The chosen one’. It is one of the nicknames of Prophet Muhammad.
56. Matins
This name is derived from a personal name based on the Arabic name Matin, meaning ‘strong’ or ‘powerful’. It also comes from Al-Matin, meaning ‘the Almighty’ is an attribute of Allah.
57. Manuel
Originating in the Hebrew name Immanu’el, Manuel means ‘God with us’ or ‘The son of Emanuel’.
58. Njoku
Njoku Ji is the guardian deity of the yam for the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria.
59. Nnadi
This surname of Igbo origin means ‘my God is alive’ or ‘my father lives’.
60. Nwadike
This surname of Igbo origin means ‘this person is strong’ or ‘son of the hero’.
61. Nwaeze
This surname of Igbo origin means ‘child of the king’.
62. Nwaigbo
This surname of Igbo origin means ‘child of the Igbo people’.
63. Nnachi
Originated from the Igbo ethnic group of eastern Nigeria, Nnachi means ‘God father’.
64. Nwabili
A variant of Nabili, Nwabila has an Arabic origin meaning ‘honourable’ or ‘noble’.
65. Okoro
This surname of Igbo origin means ‘Greatness’ or ‘Child of the free-born man’.
66. Onyema
Onyema is an Igbo surname meaning ‘Who can predict the mind of God?’
67. Obianagha
This surname of Igbo origin means ‘he came to fight’.
68. Okpara
This surname means ‘first born’.
69. Okusanya
This surname of Yoruba origin symbolizes the belief ‘God has rewarded me for my sufferings’.
70. Oladoyinbo
This surname of Igbo origin means ‘honour surrounds him’.
71. Okon
This surname of African origin refers to someone ‘Born in the night’.
72. Ojo
This Yoruba surname means ‘Splendour’, ‘shine’, or ‘vigour’.
73. Okeke
This surname refers to someone ‘Born on Eke’, which is one of the days of the Igbo week.
74. Owayale
This surname in Yoruba means ‘the river goddess came home’.
75. Odoemene
Derived from Igbo tribe, Odoemene means ‘yellow reluctance’.
76. Popoola
This surname of Yoruba origin means ‘Intelligent people love God’.
77. Peter
Derived from Greek Petros, meaning ‘stone’, ‘rock’, Peter refers to ‘the son of Peter’.
78. Prest
Derived from the Old English word preost, which means priest, Prest is part of the ancient legacy of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain.
79. Rabiu
This Hausa given name or surname means ‘meaningful’.
80. Rafiu
This name of Arabic origin is one of the names of God in Islam and Gods of Networking. It stems from the Arabic verb rafa, meaning ‘to lift or to raise’. Rafiu means ‘noble’.
81. Razzaq
This surname of Arabic, Persian and Urdu origin is one of the names of God in Islam, and it means ‘provider’ or ‘sustained’.
82. Raheem
This surname is one of the names of Allah in Islam. A short for Abdu r-Raḥīm, it means ‘Servant of the Merciful’.
83. Sanusi
Sanusi was the name of the Lybian dynasty until the 1969 coup and means ‘the one who comes from the Senouss’.
84. Sami
This surname of Arabic origin means ‘prominent, exalted’.
85. Sulaimom
Originating from Hebrew, Sulaimon means ‘man of peace’. It corresponds to the English name Solomon who was a Muslim prophet and King of Israel.
86. Samuel
This surname of Hebrew origin means either ‘name of God’. Samuel was the last of the ruling judges in the Old Testament.
87. Tyjani
This Nigerian surname means ‘unmatched greatness’ or ‘Gift’.
88. Tersoo
Commonly found among the Tiv people of Nigeria, this surname means ‘father’s love’.
89. Taiwo
This surname of Yoruba origin means ‘the first twin to taste the world’. Taye and Taiye are the variants of this surname.
90. Ugochukwu
This Igbo surname means ‘God’s Eagle’, ‘Crown of God’ or ‘Glory of God’.
91. Uba
Uba of African origin means ‘Father’, ‘Lord’.
92. Uthman
This surname of Arabic origin means ‘wise’, ‘most powerful’, and ‘intuitive’. This mythological surname belonged to Uthman, Prophet Muhammad’s companion.
93. Unigwe
This surname of Igbo origin meaning ‘heaven’.
94. Ukpabi
This frequently used surname of Igbo origin refers to ‘the name of a deity.’
95. Uche
Common among the Igbo people, Uche means ‘intention’, ‘will’, ‘mind’, or ‘sense’. Uchechukwu is its variant, which means ‘God’s will’ or ‘God’s intention’.
96. Umaru
Umaru originates from Urdu or the ancient Arabic word umr meaning ‘life’.
97. Umunna
Umunna is a form of patrilineage maintained by the Igbo tribe. It means ‘children of the father’.
98. Uchenna
This surname of Igbo origin means ‘God’s thought’.
99. Yakubu
A variant of Jacob, Yakubu means ‘Supplanter’ and is of Swahili origin.
100. Yusuf
This Arabic, Aramaic, Turkish and Persian name, means ‘God increases’ in Hebrew.
Last names provide a bridge to the past, and those from Africa are no exception. They can tell you about your ancestors’ lives or if these names are in your family tree. The indigenous Nigerian last names and surnames are so reflective and unique that they are favourable as first names, too. Choose one from the given list to shine out in the crowd.
