Moroccan Last Names and Their Meanings
Moroccan family names tell a story: where a family comes from, the trade of an ancestor, a tribal affiliation or a religious lineage. This guide explains how Moroccan last names work and lists the most common Moroccan surnames with their meanings.
How Moroccan Family Names Work
A Moroccan name is made of a single first name followed by a family name - there is no middle name. Several particles appear in family names and each has a meaning:
| Particle | Origin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Ben / Bel / Bou | Arabic | "Son of" (Ben Ali = son of Ali), "father of" for Bou |
| Ait / Ou | Amazigh | "People of / family of" (Ait Lahcen), "son of" for Ou |
| El / Al | Arabic | "The" (El Fassi = the one from Fes) |
| Ould / Bent | Hassani Arabic (Sahara) | "Son of / daughter of", common in the southern provinces |
Married women traditionally keep their maiden name: a Moroccan wife does not take her husband's surname on official documents.
Surnames From Cities and Regions (Nisba Names)
Many surnames simply indicate the town or region a family once came from:
| Surname | Meaning |
|---|---|
| El Fassi / Fassi | From Fes |
| Tazi | From Taza |
| Slaoui | From Sale |
| Rbati | From Rabat |
| Marrakchi | From Marrakesh |
| Soussi | From the Souss valley (Agadir region) |
| Doukkali | From the Doukkala plain (El Jadida region) |
| Filali | From the Tafilalet oasis (south-east) |
| Meknassi | From Meknes |
| Chaoui | From the Chaouia plain (Casablanca hinterland) |
| Andaloussi | From Al-Andalus (Muslim Spain) |
| Tanjaoui | From Tangier |
Old Fes and Andalusian Family Names
After the fall of Granada in 1492, many Andalusian families settled in Fes, Rabat, Sale and Tetouan. Their descendants carry some of the most recognizable Moroccan surnames, historically associated with trade and scholarship:
| Benjelloun | Bennani | Berrada | Bennis |
| Benkirane | Chraibi | Lahlou | Guessous |
| Benslimane | Bennouna | Lamrani | Sqalli (Skalli) |
| Sefrioui | Benchekroun | Berrady | Benmoussa |
Note: Sqalli means "the Sicilian", a reminder that some families passed through Sicily before reaching Morocco.
Sharifian and Religious Lineages
Sharifian surnames indicate a claimed descent from the Prophet's family or from a famous saint. They carry social prestige and are widespread across the country:
| Surname | Associated lineage |
|---|---|
| Alaoui | The Alaouite lineage - also that of the royal family |
| Idrissi (El Idrissi) | Descent from Moulay Idriss, founder of Fes |
| El Alami | Lineage of the saint Abdeslam Ben Mchich (Jbel Alam) |
| Ouazzani | The zawiya (religious brotherhood) of Ouazzane |
| Kettani | Great Fes scholarly family |
| Kadiri (El Kadiri) | The Qadiriyya brotherhood |
| Cherkaoui | The zawiya of Boujad |
| Tahiri | Idrissid branch |
| Sebti | Linked to Ceuta (Sebta) and the saint Sidi Bel Abbes Sebti |
| Naciri | The Nasiriyya zawiya of Tamegroute |
Ben- Patronymic Surnames
The most straightforward family names: "son of" followed by an ancestor's first name.
| Benali | Benomar | Benbrahim | Benaissa |
| Benhaddou | Benyoussef | Benhamou | Bendaoud |
| Belhaj (son of the pilgrim) | Belkacem | Bouazza | Bouchaib |
Amazigh (Berber) Surnames
In the Atlas, the Rif and the Souss, family names often carry the tribal "Ait" (people of) or descriptive Amazigh words:
| Surname | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ait Ali / Ait Ahmed / Ait Lahcen | People (family) of Ali, Ahmed, Lahcen |
| Amghar | The chief, the elder |
| Ouali | Son of Ali |
| Amrani (El Amrani) | Very common in the north and among Amazigh families |
| Aznag | From the Iznagen (Zenaga) tribes |
| Ouhaddou | Son of Haddou |
| Azergui | The blue one (azerg / azegzaw root) |
| Boutaleb | Father of the scholar (mixed Arabic-Amazigh form) |
See also: our list of Amazigh first names and their meanings.
Moroccan Jewish Surnames
Morocco was home to the largest Jewish community of the Arab world, and Moroccan Jewish surnames remain widespread in Israel, France and Canada:
| Ohana | Azoulay | Elmaleh | Toledano |
| Abitbol | Amsellem | Corcos | Assaraf |
| Benchetrit | Dahan | Peretz | Malka |
Toledano ("from Toledo") and Corcos are Andalusian-Sephardic names; Ohana and Amsellem have Amazigh roots - the two heritages often mix, just as they do in Muslim families. You can learn more at the Moroccan Jewish Museum in Casablanca.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common last name in Morocco?
Alaoui, El Idrissi, Bennani, Amrani and El Fassi are among the most frequently registered family names, along with patronymics like Benali.
Why do some Moroccans have a first name as a last name?
When civil registration became general in the 20th century, many families simply registered an ancestor's first name (Lahcen, Brahim, Omar) as their family name - which is why the line between first and last names can be confusing. Our guide to Moroccan first names helps tell them apart.
Do Moroccan women change their name at marriage?
No. Legally a woman keeps her father's family name for life; socially she may be called by her husband's name, but documents never change.
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