Mzungu came, 'civilized' us and left us with new order for everything-including names. Before he came, I understand your name was the name they referred you with at a particular time!

They left us confused, maybe because we didn't quite customise the surname to fit our culture.

Take the example of John Njeru Kimathi. He is John Njeru son of Kimathi. He refers himself as Mr Kimathi.

His wife Kwamboka refers herself as Mrs Kwamboka Njeru. Their daughter Beryl is Beryl Kawira Njeru.

Hence in one family we have Mr. Kimathi, his wife Mrs Njeru and their daughter Miss Njeru. Collectively, the Njerus(not the Njeru's)

See the African confusion?

@kiash can correct me if I'm wrong, but in majuu you can trace your entire family tree by the surnames. Some sections of the Luhya do follow that logic but most of us don't.

And yes, the rich/ influential do follow too e.g the Odingas, Nyagahs, Kenyattas, Mois, Ndegwas-all inherit that important name!

The surnames concept would have easily fused with our clan/sub-clan concept where it would be easy to trace your (sub)clansmen by their last name!

I belong to the group who nowadays just settle on a surname for the family so that we have the 'Odongos' the 'Wafulas'the 'Kamaus' etc!!!!

We have been taught to use father's middle name as surname/ family name. Thus John Njeru Kimathi is Mr Kimathi while his son Swenani Kimathi Njeru is Mr Njeru. Swenani's wife kysse is Mrs Kysse Lorraine Kimathi. She is Mrs Kimathi you are Mr Njeru!Mr Kimathi is your father, Mrs Kimathi is your wife

Your culture sounds MtKenyaish where you inherit names from grandparents!

Now Spanish naming customs, which were copied by her colonies, are gender sensitive. They take into account the mother's surname

e.g

Carlos Slim Helu

Teodoro Obiang Mbasogo