Nigerian last names can be found to have origins in African culture.
For example, the Yoruba people of Nigeria are identified by their family name and they precede it with “O” which is a mark of respect for one’s elders. In some cases Nigerian surnames may not even be connected to an individual or group at all but rather represent something about its location. For instance, there are areas that share “Ako” as a surname because this means “a certain place.” What other Nigerian surname facts do you know?
Given how diverse the country is (by region) and given our rich history – I think we have quite a few! Let me give you five things I learned recently:
The Yoruba people of Nigeria are identified by their family name and they precede it with “O” which is a mark of respect for one’s elders.
In some cases Nigerian surnames may not even be connected to an individual or group at all but rather represent something about its location. For instance, there are areas that share “Ako” as a surname because this means “a certain place.”
What other Nigerian surname facts do you know? Let me know in the comments below! 🙂
Below I will give five interesting facts about Nigerians last names:
Nigerian last names can have origins in African culture and signify heritage from within Africa itself (i.e., Oke, meaning “king” in Yoruba).
In some cases Nigerian surnames may not even be connected to an individual or group at all but rather represent something about its location. For instance, there are areas that share “Ako” as a surname because this means “a certain place.”
The Yoruba people of Nigeria are identified by their family name and they precede it with “O” which is a mark of respect for one’s elders.
Nigerian last names can also come from the Arabic language (i.e., Aliyu) given to individuals who convert to Islam during colonialism while living in different regions like West Africa and North Africa.
What other Nigerian surname facts do you want to know?
The Yoruba people of Nigeria are identified by their family name and they precede it with “O” which is a mark of respect for one’s elders. In some cases Nigerian surnames may not even be connected to an individual or group at all but rather represent something about its location. For instance, there are areas that share “Ako” as a surname because this means “a certain place.”
Nigerian last names can also come from the Arabic language (i.e., Aliyu) given to individuals who convert to Islam during colonialism while living in different regions like West Africa and North Africa. Swahili, which is a colonial-era import has been influenced by this as well, with some Nigerian surnames incorporating it into their own personal name including Osagiecunna Ijumaa or Adebola Damilare.
The Yoruba people of Nigeria are identified by their family name and they precede it with “O” which is a mark of respect for one’s elders. In some cases Nigerian surnames may not even be connected to an individual or group at all but rather represent some kind of place. Names like Osogbo, Ibadan, and Sokoto come from Yoruba towns while names like Makurdi stem from an ancient kingdom located in the northwest region of Nigeria.
The Igbo people also have their own naming traditions dating back centuries with many still using last names that honor one’s lineage. This includes individuals who are known as a “child” or “son/daughter.” For example Ukwuwaka is derived from the word ukwu meaning child which means someone born out of wedlock to a man and woman not married to each other. And children may use both parents surnames if they wish such as Ojukwu-Anyanwu. Others include okonkwo
“In Nigeria, there are over 500 different last names.”
“The Biafran War in the 1960s resulted in a major reshuffling of surnames to avoid confusion as soldiers from both sides often had similar sounding names. This is why many Nigerian families have two or more last names today.”
“Many Nigerians use their father’s first name and his father’s surname as part of their own double-barreled surname.”
There may be multiple people within one family with the same surname even if they live on separate continents because some fathers might take the children’s mothers’ maiden name for ease of remembrance when listing them all together in order to tell apart between siblings who share the same father.
“Some Nigerians have adopted surnames which are not Nigerian.”
“Nigerian names are not limited to last names. Some Nigerians have middle and first names, which can be either Nigerian or foreign in origin.”
Bullet Point: Many people from Nigeria share a double-barreled surname, where their father’s first name is combined with his family’s surname; others may choose to take on surnames that aren’t Nigerian at all.
I want my readers to know about the different types of Nigerian lastnames. I’ll start off by explaining why many people use two lastnames like this: “Kweku Kwarteng”, “Oyinkan Niyi Adije”. This is because some men would take their childrens mothers’ maiden name as their second last name.
I want my readers to know about the different types of Nigerian lastnames. I’ll start off by explaining why many people use two lastname like this: “Kweku Kwarteng”, “Oyinkan Niyi Adije”. This is because some men would take their childrens mothers’ maiden name as their second lastname.
Many Nigerians have adopted surnames which are not Nigerian, and these can be from African or European origin: e.g., Akintola or Somolu; Odumakin, Apena-Ajufo or Ajagbe (meaning “the son of the sea”); Igbinoviaor Egbunu (meaning “born of privilege”).
Many Nigerians have adopted surnames which are not Nigerian, and these can be from African or European origin: e.g., Akintola or Somolu; Odumakin, Apena-Ajufo or Ajagbe (meaning “the son of the sea”); Igbinoviaor Egbunu (meaning “born of privilege”).
Some names were created by Europeans to honour their explorers who had come to Nigeria as well as traditional rulers they encountered in their explorations so you may find lastnames such as Asquithand Jollymore.
The 2015 United States Census revealed that over 40% of Nigerians have adopted surnames which are not Nigerian.
The most common surname in Nigeria is Smith with over 20,00 people bearing the name while other popular last names include Williams, Brown and Johnson.
Nigerian surnames trace their origins to four main sources: African (mostly Igbo), Muslim (Hausa, Fulani or Yoruba) and European aristocratic genealogy. The tradition for naming children varies from region to region depending on culture but some family names you may find out there include Akintolaor Somolu; Odumakin, Apena-Ajufo or Ajagbe (meaning “the son of the sea”); Igbinovia or Onyedika (meaning “the son of one who has arrived”). The Nigerian people have a very diverse culture and their last names are often reflective of that. Nigerians also hold many different types of surnames with Igbo being the most common ethnic group with over 40% Igbos bearing the name Ogbuagu while other popular groups include Hausa, Fulani or Yoruba. Most Nigerians trace their origins to four main sources: African (mostly Igbo), Muslim (Hausa, Fulani or Yoruba) and European aristocratic genealogy; The tradition for naming children varies from region to region depending on culture but some family names you may find out there include Akint
