South African Last Names

These South African last names cover Zulu, Xhosa, Sotho, Pedi, Venda, Tsonga, Afrikaans, Cape, Indian and English families, each listed with its origin and meaning so you can search a name or browse the whole country letter by letter.

300 real surnames with meanings, A to Z.

A

Abrahams

Coloured and Cape Malay family name; son of Abraham
Adams

Coloured and English family name; son of Adam
Adonis

Coloured family name of Cape slave-era origin
Appollis

Coloured family name of Cape slave-era origin
Arendse

Coloured family name; son of Arend

B

Baloyi

Tsonga family name
De Beer

Afrikaans, Dutch for the bear
Van den Berg

Afrikaans, Dutch for from the hill
Bester

Afrikaans family name of German origin
Bezuidenhout

Afrikaans, Dutch for south of the wood
Bhana

South African Indian (Gujarati) family name
Biko

Xhosa family name
Biyela

Zulu clan name
Booysen

Coloured and Afrikaans family name
Bosman

Afrikaans, Dutch for woodsman
Botha

Afrikaans, from German Both or Bothe
Brink

Afrikaans, Dutch for edge or village green
Brown

English family name; brown-haired
Burger

Afrikaans, Dutch for citizen
Buthelezi

Zulu clan name

C

Campbell

Scottish family name; crooked mouth
Cassim

South African Indian and Cape Malay form of Qasim
Cele

Zulu clan name
Chauke

Tsonga family name
Chetty

South African Indian (Tamil) merchant-caste name
Chinsamy

South African Indian (Tamil) family name
Chuene

Northern Sotho for baboon; totem clan name
Cilliers

Afrikaans Huguenot name; French for cellar keeper
Clarke

English family name; clerk or scribe
Cloete

Afrikaans family name of German origin
Coetzee

Afrikaans, from Dutch Coetsé
Cupido

Coloured family name of Cape slave-era origin

D

Dalindyebo

Xhosa royal name of the abaThembu
Davids

Coloured and Cape Malay family name; son of David
Dawood

South African Indian Muslim form of David
Desai

South African Indian (Gujarati) name; district official
Dlamini

Swazi royal clan name, also common among Zulu
Du Plessis

Afrikaans Huguenot name; French for enclosure, hedge
Du Preez

Afrikaans Huguenot name; French for of the meadow
Du Toit

Afrikaans Huguenot name; French for of the roof
Dube

Nguni for zebra; Zulu clan name

E

Els

Afrikaans family name of German origin
Engelbrecht

Afrikaans, from a Germanic name: Engel (Angle) and bright
Erasmus

Afrikaans, from Greek for beloved
Essop

South African Indian Muslim form of Yusuf
Evans

Welsh family name; son of Evan

F

Februarie

Coloured family name, a Cape slave-era month name
Ferreira

Afrikaans family of Portuguese origin; blacksmith
Fortuin

Coloured family name; Dutch for fortune
Fourie

Afrikaans Huguenot name of French origin

G

Gasa

Zulu clan name
Goniwe

Xhosa family name
Gounden

South African Indian (Tamil) form of Gounder
Govender

South African Indian (Tamil) name, possibly from the title Gounder
Govindasamy

South African Indian (Tamil) name for Lord Govinda
Grobler

Afrikaans family name of German or Dutch origin
Gumede

Zulu clan name

H

Hadebe

Zulu clan name, linked to the Hlubi
Hani

Xhosa family name
Harris

English family name; son of Harry
Hattingh

Afrikaans family name of German origin
Van Heerden

Afrikaans, from Heerde in the Netherlands
Hendricks

Coloured and Cape Malay family name; son of Hendrik
Hlongwane

Zulu and Swazi clan name
Hlophe

Zulu and Swazi clan name
Hlungwani

Tsonga family name

I

Isaacs

Coloured and Cape Malay family name; son of Isaac
Ismail

South African Indian Muslim name; God hears

J

Jabavu

Xhosa family name
Jacobs

Afrikaans and Coloured family name; son of Jacob
January

Coloured family name, a Cape slave-era month name
Johnson

English family name; son of John
Jones

English and Welsh family name; son of John
Jordaan

Afrikaans, Dutch form of Jordan
Joubert

Afrikaans Huguenot name
Julies

Coloured family name, possibly a Cape slave-era month name

K

Kekana

Northern Ndebele and Pedi family name
Kgosana

Tswana for little chief, headman
Khan

South African Indian Muslim name; ruler
Khanyile

Zulu clan name
Khoza

Zulu and Swazi clan name
Khumalo

Zulu and Ndebele clan name
Khuzwayo

Zulu clan name
King

English family name
Klaasen

Coloured and Afrikaans family name; son of Klaas
De Klerk

Afrikaans, Dutch for the clerk
Kotze

Afrikaans family name of German origin
Kruger

Afrikaans, German for innkeeper
Kubheka

Zulu clan name

L

Labuschagne

Afrikaans Huguenot name
Lamola

Northern Sotho (Pedi) family name
Ledwaba

Northern Sotho (Pedi) family name
Lekota

Sotho family name
Letsoalo

Northern Sotho (Pedi) family name
Lombard

Afrikaans Huguenot name; from Lombardy
Louw

Afrikaans family name of Dutch origin
Luthuli

Zulu clan name

M

Maake

Northern Sotho (Pedi) family name
Mabandla

Xhosa family name
Mabasa

Tsonga family name
Mabaso

Zulu clan name
Mabunda

Tsonga family name
Mabuza

Swazi clan name
Madonsela

Swazi clan name
Magagula

Swazi clan name
Maharaj

South African Indian (Hindi) name meaning great king
Mahlangu

Ndebele family name of the royal lineage
Maistry

South African Indian (Tamil) name; master craftsman
Majola

Zulu and Xhosa clan name
Majozi

Zulu clan name
Makgoba

Northern Sotho (Pedi) family name
Makhado

Venda royal name after King Makhado
Makhanya

Zulu clan name
Makhetha

Sotho family name
Makhubela

Tsonga family name
Makiwane

Xhosa family name
Malan

Afrikaans Huguenot name
Maluleke

Tsonga family name
Manamela

Northern Sotho (Pedi) family name
Mandela

Xhosa family name of the Thembu royal house
Maphaha

Venda family name
Maphumulo

Zulu clan name
Marais

Afrikaans Huguenot name; French for marsh
Martin

English family name, from the name Martin
Masango

Ndebele and Swazi family name
Maseko

Swazi and Ndebele clan name
Masemola

Northern Sotho (Pedi) family name
Mashaba

Tsonga family name
Mashau

Venda family name
Masilela

Ndebele family name
Masilo

Sotho and Tswana family name
Masondo

Zulu clan name
Maswanganyi

Tsonga family name
Mathabatha

Northern Sotho (Pedi) family name
Mathebula

Tsonga family name
Mathivha

Venda family name
Mathonsi

Tsonga family name
Mavasa

Tsonga family name
Mavuso

Swazi clan name
Mazibuko

Zulu clan name; possibly from izibuko, river fords
Mbatha

Zulu clan name
Mbeki

Xhosa family name
Mbhele

Zulu clan name
Mbokazi

Zulu clan name
Mchunu

Zulu clan name
Mda

Xhosa family name
Mdlalose

Zulu clan name
Mdluli

Swazi clan name
Van der Merwe

Afrikaans, from the Merwede river in the Netherlands
Meyer

Afrikaans, German for steward or farmer
Mhlanga

Tsonga and Nguni for reed; clan name
Mhlongo

Zulu clan name
Mkhabela

Swazi and Tsonga clan name
Mkhize

Zulu clan name
Mkhwanazi

Zulu clan name
Mlambo

Zulu clan name
Mncube

Zulu and Ndebele clan name
Mngomezulu

Zulu and Swazi clan name
Mnguni

Nguni clan name, after an early Nguni ancestor
Mnisi

Swazi and Tsonga clan name
Moagi

Tswana for builder
Modise

Tswana for shepherd or herder
Moeketsi

Sotho family name
Mofokeng

Sotho family name
Mofolo

Sotho family name
Mogale

Sotho and Tswana; possibly hero or brave one
Mogotsi

Tswana family name
Mohale

Sotho family name
Mohapi

Sotho family name
Mohlala

Northern Sotho (Pedi) family name
Mokgoro

Tswana family name
Mokgosi

Tswana family name
Mokoena

Sotho clan name of the crocodile totem
Mokwena

Northern Sotho and Tswana, crocodile-totem clan
Molapo

Sotho chiefly family name
Molefe

Sotho and Tswana family name
Molema

Tswana (Barolong) family name
Molepo

Northern Sotho (Pedi) family name
Moloi

Sotho family name
Moloto

Northern Sotho and Tswana family name
Montshiwa

Tswana (Barolong) royal name
Moodley

South African Indian (Tamil) name, from Mudaliar
Moonsamy

South African Indian (Tamil) name, from Munusamy
Moosa

South African Indian and Cape Malay form of Moses
Moroka

Tswana (Barolong) chiefly name
Moshoeshoe

Basotho royal name after King Moshoeshoe I
Motaung

Sotho for of the lion; lion-totem clan
Mothibi

Tswana family name
Motsepe

Tswana family name
Motsoeneng

Sotho family name
Mpanza

Zulu clan name
Mphahlele

Northern Sotho (Pedi) family name
Msimang

Zulu clan name
Msiza

Ndebele family name
Mthembu

Zulu clan name, linked to the abaThembu
Mthethwa

Zulu clan name of the old Mthethwa paramountcy
Mthimkhulu

Hlubi royal clan name
Mtshali

Zulu clan name
Mudaly

South African Indian (Tamil) form of Mudaliar
Mudau

Venda family name
Mulaudzi

Venda family name
Munyai

Venda family name
Murray

Scottish family name common among English speakers
Myburgh

Afrikaans family name of Dutch origin
Myeni

Zulu clan name

N

Naicker

South African Indian (Tamil) name, from Nayakar
Naidoo

South African Indian (Telugu) caste-derived name
Naude

Afrikaans Huguenot name
Ndaba

Zulu for matter or affair; clan name
Ndimande

Zulu and Swazi clan name
Ndlovu

Nguni for elephant; Zulu and Ndebele clan
Ndou

Venda for elephant
Ndwandwe

Zulu clan name of the old Ndwandwe kingdom
Nel

Afrikaans family name of Dutch origin
Nene

Zulu clan name
Ngcobo

Zulu clan name
Ngema

Zulu clan name
Ngidi

Zulu clan name
Ngobeni

Tsonga family name
Ngubane

Zulu clan name
Ngwenya

Nguni for crocodile; Zulu and Swazi clan
Nhlapo

Zulu and Swazi clan name
Van Niekerk

Afrikaans, from Nijkerk, new church
Nkabinde

Zulu clan name
Nkambule

Swazi clan name
Nkosi

Nguni for king or lord
Nkuna

Tsonga family name
Ntuli

Zulu clan name
Nxumalo

Zulu clan name
Nzimande

Zulu clan name

O

Olivier

Afrikaans Huguenot name; olive tree
Oosthuizen

Afrikaans, Dutch for eastern houses

P

Padayachee

South African Indian (Tamil) name, from Padayachi
Patel

South African Indian (Gujarati) name; village headman
Pather

South African Indian (Tamil) family name
Perumal

South African Indian (Tamil) name for Vishnu
Pienaar

Afrikaans Huguenot name from French Pinard
Pillay

South African Indian (Tamil) title-derived name
Plaatjies

Coloured family name
Potgieter

Afrikaans, Dutch for pot caster
Pretorius

Afrikaans, Latinized Dutch Praetorius, leader
Prinsloo

Afrikaans family name of Dutch origin; possibly prince's wood

R

Radebe

Hlubi clan name, common among Zulu and Sotho
Ramsamy

South African Indian (Tamil) name, from Ramasamy
Reddy

South African Indian (Telugu) caste-derived name
Van Rensburg

Afrikaans family name of Dutch origin
Rikhotso

Tsonga family name
Robertson

Scottish family name; son of Robert
Rossouw

Afrikaans Huguenot name from French Rousseau
Le Roux

Afrikaans Huguenot name; French for the red-haired

S

Schoeman

Afrikaans, Dutch for shoemaker
Scott

Scottish family name common among English speakers
Selepe

Northern Sotho and Tswana for axe
Sello

Sotho name meaning a cry
September

Coloured family name, a Cape slave-era month name
Shabalala

Zulu clan name
Shezi

Zulu clan name
Shongwe

Swazi clan name
Sibisi

Zulu clan name
Sibiya

Zulu clan name
Simelane

Swazi clan name
Singh

South African Indian (Hindi) name meaning lion
Sithole

Zulu, Swazi and Tsonga clan name
Skosana

Ndebele family name
Smit

Afrikaans, Dutch for smith
Smith

English family name; metalworker
Snyman

Afrikaans, Dutch for tailor
Solomons

Coloured and Cape Malay family name; son of Solomon
Steenkamp

Afrikaans, Dutch for stone field
Steyn

Afrikaans, Dutch for stone
Strydom

Afrikaans family name of Dutch origin
Swanepoel

Afrikaans, Dutch for swan pool

T

Tau

Sotho and Tswana for lion
Taylor

English family name; tailor
Terblanche

Afrikaans Huguenot name; French for white earth
Theron

Afrikaans Huguenot name
Thompson

English family name; son of Thomas
Tlali

Sotho family name
Tshabalala

Zulu and Sotho clan name
Tsotetsi

Sotho family name

V

Venter

Afrikaans; possibly Dutch for dealer or seller
Vermeulen

Afrikaans, Dutch for from the mill
Viljoen

Afrikaans Huguenot name from French Villion
De Villiers

Afrikaans Huguenot name; from Villiers in France
Visser

Afrikaans, Dutch for fisherman
Vorster

Afrikaans, German for forester

W

Walker

English family name; cloth fuller
Van der Walt

Afrikaans family name of Dutch origin
Wessels

Afrikaans, son of Wessel
Van der Westhuizen

Afrikaans, Dutch for from the western houses
De Wet

Afrikaans family name of Dutch origin
White

English family name; fair-haired
Williams

English and Coloured family name; son of William
Wilson

English family name; son of Will
Van Wyk

Afrikaans, from Wijk, a Dutch place name

Z

Zondo

Zulu clan name
Zulu

Zulu for heaven or sky; the Zulu royal clan
Zungu

Zulu clan name
Zwane

Zulu and Swazi clan name
Van Zyl

Afrikaans, from Dutch zijl, sluice

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Mogotsi

Tswana family name
Harris

English family name; son of Harry
Rambau

Venda family name
Sibisi

Zulu clan name
Robertson

Scottish family name; son of Robert
Molepo

Northern Sotho (Pedi) family name

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How South African last names are written

Afrikaans surnames with a particle follow a rule that surprises many visitors. When the name stands alone, the particle usually takes a capital, as in Mr Van der Merwe or Mrs Du Toit. When a first name or initials come before it, the particle is normally written in lower case, as in Jan van der Merwe or P. du Toit. Directories and school lists often file these names under V or D, so it helps to know both forms when you search the list above.

African surnames raise different spelling questions. In Zulu and Xhosa, the letters c, q and x stand for click sounds, so the c in Ngcobo is a click rather than the English letter. Many Sotho, Tswana and Pedi names begin with Mo or Ma, as in Mokoena, Molefe and Masemola. Missionary and colonial clerks often wrote names by ear, so older baptism and labour records can show spellings that differ from the standard forms used today.

Names tied to the country's modern history

Some of the best known names in the list belong to people who shaped modern South Africa. Mandela is a Thembu family name, and Nelson Mandela was also called by his clan name Madiba, which many South Africans still use with affection. Sisulu, Tambo, Hani, Biko and Tutu come from Xhosa speaking families linked to the struggle against apartheid, while Luthuli, a Zulu name, belonged to the chief who received the Nobel Peace Prize for 1960.

Other names carry the memory of the Cape. During the era of slavery there, enslaved people were often given a single name by their owners, sometimes the month in which they arrived or a classical or biblical name. Their descendants still carry surnames such as January, September, Februarie, Adonis and Cupido, along with Isaacs, Abrahams and Hendricks. Today these are ordinary family names in Cape Town and the Western Cape, and many families hold them with pride.

South African last names in stories and games

Match the name to the place first. A Zulu family in KwaZulu-Natal might be Mkhize or Ngcobo, and a Xhosa family in the Eastern Cape might be Makiwane or Jabavu. In Limpopo you could meet a Pedi Masemola, a Venda Mudau or a Tsonga Baloyi. An Afrikaans farming family in the Free State could be Pienaar or Strydom, a Cape Town family Arendse or Solomons, and a Durban family Naidoo or Govender.

Many South Africans pair an English or Afrikaans first name with an African surname, so Sipho Dlamini and Grace Mokoena are both realistic, as are Johan Steyn and Priya Pillay. Names in a home language, such as Thandeka or Lerato, work well too. Use the letter bar to see one initial at a time, and try the small generator under the list when you need several names at once for a cast list, a classroom exercise or a game.

Frequently asked questions

Why do so many South African last names start with Van or Du?

These names come from Dutch and French Huguenot settlers at the Cape. Van means from, so Van der Merwe points to a place near the Merwede river in the Netherlands, while du and de mean of the, as in Du Plessis and De Villiers. Over time these families became the core of Afrikaans speaking society.

What does Madiba mean?

Madiba is the clan name of Nelson Mandela, taken from a Thembu chief who ruled in the Eastern Cape long before Mandela was born. In Xhosa culture, calling someone by their clan name is a mark of respect, which is why South Africans often referred to Mandela simply as Madiba.

Why do some Cape families have names like September or January?

Under slavery at the Cape, enslaved people were often named after the month in which they arrived or were bought. Those names passed to their children and became fixed surnames. January, September and Februarie are now ordinary family names, especially among Coloured communities in the Western Cape.

How do you pronounce the c in Ngcobo?

In Zulu spelling, c marks a dental click, made by pulling the tip of the tongue away from the back of the upper teeth, like the sound English speakers make to show disapproval. In Ngcobo the click is voiced and nasal, so it blends into the ng before it.