I have 2 questions:

1.I have been wondering and would like to know how it happened that we have such names like; Spiff,Lawson,Jack,Mighty,Clarke,Clinton etc.

What happened?

Why do Hausas and Yorubas bear Arabic names?

English last names (surnames), you mean? You can add that to the question for clarity

Mogidi:
Why do Hausas and Yorubas bear Arabic names?

Bad history student/teacher

Having such name doesn't worry me, the one that makes me laugh is the kind of names like "fineface, governor, tata, baby, somebody, his excellency etc that they give and allow the kids to grow up with. Those ones make me laugh.

Remember there wAs a shipping port at Bonny and other neighboring States were the white men hanged around in those good old days.. That was how does names came into existence

Just relax and keep wondering.

Gboliwe:
Having such name doesn't worry me, the one that makes me laugh is the kind of names like "[b]fineface, governor, tata, baby, somebody, his excellency etc that they give and allow the kids to grow up with. Those ones make me laugh.

Governor, His excellency ?

Add
'Monday'-'Sunday',
Polycarp
Boniface
Emperor
Government

BlackBaron:
Governor, His excellency ?

Add
'Monday'-'Sunday',
Polycarp
Boniface
Emperor

I have seen other regions/tribe give the monday to sunday name to their children. It's not exclusive to the Niger Deltans

intrepid:
I have 2 questions:

1.I have been wondering and would like to know how it happened that we have such names like; Spiff,Lawson,Jack,Mighty,Clarke,Clinton etc.

2.Why do they have some Igbo sounding names but they are not Igbos.E.g. Amaechi,Ikenna,Nwanne,Chibuike,etc

What happened?

Niger Delta is not a people, it is an area of land. It is mostly Ijaws that have English names largely because of contact with the Europeans. It's almost impossible to any Niger delta Igbos who have English last names.

Our early encounter with Europeans made it so. And that's why u we bear such names. My people bear good English names unlike the Igbos who still bear old English names that no longer exist in the white man's dictionary like Romanus, Polycarp, Longinus, Cletus, Calistus etc.

Disumusa my boy watsup.
Hv u found ur certificate yet .

Gboliwe:
Having such name doesn't worry me, the one that makes me laugh is the kind of names like "fineface, governor, tata, baby, somebody, his excellency etc that they give and allow the kids to grow up with. Those ones make me laugh.

Add "Finebone" and "Boniface" to your list.

size40:
Our early encounter with Europeans made it so. And that's why u we bear such names. My people bear good English names unlike the Igbos who still bear old English names that no longer exist in the white man's dictionary like Romanus, Polycarp, Longinus, Cletus, Calistus etc.

Add "Magnus" to that list.

F

Flyoruboy1:


Add "Finebone" and "Boniface" to your list.

Even pepple and longjohn.
It's more rampant among d Ijaws.
Rivers state Ijaws in particular around Opobo and Bonny.

size40:
Our early encounter with Europeans made it so. And that's why u we bear such names. My people bear good English names unlike the Igbos who still bear old English names that no longer exist in the white man's dictionary like Romanus, Polycarp, Longinus, Cletus, Calistus etc.

Those are Latin names and not English names. It's mostly Catholics that bear those names.

There was also this popular columnist/ writer during Abacha era ,called OSA DIRECTOR.

I'm sure he's also from that side.

Lol@ LongJohn.
Maybe one could also find Johnny Walker there too

intrepid:
There was also this popular columnist/ writer during Abacha era ,called OSA DIRECTOR.

I'm sure he's also from that side.

Lol@ LongJohn.
Maybe one could also find Johnny Walker there too

I think u shud travel more often.
At least u wud know experience things first hand.

Gboliwe:
Having such name doesn't worry me, the one that makes me laugh is the kind of names like "fineface, governor, tata, baby, somebody, his excellency etc that they give and allow the kids to grow up with. Those ones make me laugh.

Like Senator James Manager?

Heineken, manager, Murray Bruce, Chelsea, Government, Godspower, Millennium, Jack, Whitehead.

barcanista:
Like Senator James Manager?

Heineken lokpoibiri

The English names cane as a result of Early Contact with the Europeans and ofcourse European influence. I don't think this is different from Northerners that bear Ahmed, Abdul, Amina and all other Arabic names.

barcanista:
Like Senator James Manager?

Or the APC Rivers Publicity Secretary, Chief Chris Finebone.

asha80:


Heineken lokpoibiri

Lokpoibiri is Izon. As for Heineken... Thanks to early contact with the Europeans.

barcanista:
Lokpoibiri is Izon. As for Heineken... Thanks to early contact with the Europeans.

I highlighted Heineken.
I know of lokpoibiri

Flyoruboy1:


Or the APC Rivers Publicity Secretary, Chief Chris Finebone.

Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo


I love my people jare...

asha80:
I highlighted Heineken.
I know of lokpoibiri

ooops my bad bro...

barcanista:

Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo


I love my people jare...

Wow. Here I was thinking the "Government" in his name is a mere nickname or title. You learn something new daily. Interesting.

@ Whitehead.,Finebone,

But I don't really get it.Most of these names are not answered anywhere,even in those European countries now but we have them in there.

We might see Big Head ,Long legs,etc someday

asha80:
I highlighted Heineken.
I know of lokpoibiri

Nnaa this Heineken must have come from the beer

Magnus, Cletus e.t.c are Catholic/Latin baptismal names given to a lot of Igbo catholics, but only as a first or second name. Never as a surname.
Mind you I was told that Celestine Babayaro and Justice Christopher are Igbos. I don't know how reliable this information is, but even if it is accurate, I will be interested to know how they came about their surnames

Flyoruboy1:


Wow. Here I was thinking the "Government" in his name is a mere nickname or title. You learn something new daily. Interesting.

We learn everyday