Most common surnames in Kenya

The top 99 family names, ranked by how many people carry them.

Most common surnames in Kenya
RankSurnameOrigin & meaningPeople
1Otieno—547,628
2Mohamed—496,642
3Mwangi—479,601
4Odhiambo—351,165
5Maina—350,099
6Ochieng—336,595
7AliArabic · “exalted”268,460
8Kamau—262,692
9Omondi—262,542
10Onyango—261,479
11Juma—240,401
12Hassan—235,163
13Abdi—229,333
14Wambui—223,175
15Atieno—223,143
16Wanjiku—217,242
17Njoroge—215,897
18Njeri—212,140
19Kariuki—202,191
20Akinyi—196,693
21Wafula—186,183
22Achieng—184,543
23Muthoni—180,418
24Ouma—179,723
25Ahmed—168,792
26Kimani—158,089
27Hussein—154,897
28Adan—150,018
29Mutua—149,385
30Abdullahi—147,057
31Adhiambo—145,622
32Cheruiyot—143,087
33Njuguna—140,846
34Kibet—139,911
35Simiyu—137,516
36Macharia—134,886
37Wanjala—128,037
38Barasa—124,948
39Wambua—123,243
40Wairimu—119,924
41Chebet—119,331
42Koech—118,907
43Ibrahim—116,609
44Omar—116,471
45Nyambura—115,856
46Rotich—113,639
47Karanja—113,221
48Anyango—112,185
49Wangui—108,021
50Wekesa—107,571
51Okoth—106,593
52Langat—105,620
53Chepkemoi—105,284
54Mutuku—104,688
55Owino—98,774
56Wangari—97,627
57Njoki—97,558
58Awuor—96,435
59Musyoka—95,060
60Nyongesa—94,747
61Cherotich—94,101
62Wanyonyi—93,738
63Chepkoech—93,226
64Korir—92,624
65Chelangat—91,903
66Kiptoo—91,734
67Mwendwa—89,760
68Mbugua—88,850
69Chege—88,135
70Waweru—88,095
71Kinyua—87,525
72Ngugi—87,161
73Kiprotich—86,286
74Kipkoech—84,973
75Oduor—83,470
76Mburu—81,782
77Akoth—81,526
78Kirui—81,350
79Mwende—81,107
80Kioko—80,994
81Gitonga—80,981
82Rono—79,094
83Auma—78,833
84Mwaura—77,146
85Muriithi—77,143
86Gitau—77,120
87Munene—76,782
88Wachira—75,169
89Irungu—74,541
90Njeru—73,665
91Kemboi—73,012
92Mutai—72,829
93Cherono—71,825
94Kimutai—71,460
95Ndungu—70,212
96Nyaga—70,171
97Mutinda—70,015
99Chepkorir—69,975
100Nganga—69,050

Source: Forebears (non-official). Rankings are updated when the publisher releases new data.

Pair it with a first name

See how first names sound with your family name before you decide.

Browse first names