Ndlovu

The origin of the surname Ndlovu

Ndlovu means “elephant,” a major clan name among the Zulu and Ndebele.

What kind of surname is Ndlovu?

As a descriptive surname (or nickname name), the surname Ndlovu arose from a personal characteristic — a physical trait, a quality of temperament, or a distinguishing feature of its first bearer. Communities have always coined nicknames, and in the age before fixed surnames these vivid, affectionate or teasing labels — referring to hair colour, stature, complexion or character — frequently became hereditary. Descriptive surnames give an unusually human glimpse of an ancestor, hinting at how they looked or how they were regarded by the people around them.

How African surnames work

“African” covers a vast range of naming traditions rather than one system. Across sub-Saharan cultures — Yoruba, Igbo, Akan, Zulu, Amharic and many more — surnames and given names are frequently meaningful words in the local language, referring to circumstances of birth, the day of the week, praise of God, lineage or a family's history. Colonial contact also left European surnames in many regions, so an African family name may reflect indigenous heritage, faith or history.