East African Surnames

East African surnames reflect a complex tapestry of Semitic, Cushitic, Bantu, and Islamic influences, shaped by ancient civilizations, trade routes, and religious traditions. The region includes countries like Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, and the Comoros Islands, located along the Swahili Coast.

The naming traditions of Ethiopia and Eritrea differ from those of the majority of African nations. A person's "last name" is usually their father's given name; surnames are patronymics rather than established family names. Mesfin Yohannes, for instance, translates to "Mesfin, son of Yohannes." These names may have religious or ancestral meanings and are frequently Semitic in origin, coming from Ge'ez, Amharic, or Tigrinya. Ethiopian Jews have followed the same pattern for centuries; however, newer generations in the West as well as in Israel use names in the standard Western first name + surname format, with the surname taken from their father upon leaving Ethiopia.

Somali names are also patrilineal; they typically include the individual's given name, father's name, and grandfather's name. There is a significant Islamic influence, and names like Abdullahi, Omar and Ismail frequently have Arabic and Persian origins. This influence is also found into Bantu linguistic contexts on the Swahili Coast due to the strong impact of Islamic culture and trade on surnames. Common names that frequently represent religious identity or the day of birth are Ali, Bakari, and Juma.

East African naming customs place more emphasis on spirituality and ancestry than on established, western-style family surnames, providing genealogists with both rich cultural knowledge and challenges.