• MyHeritage Wiki
  • Naming traditions
  • Māori surnames
    • Main contributor: Daniel Maurice

    Māori surnames, also known as whakapapa or whānau, are essential to the identity of the indigenous people of New Zealand. They connect modern Māori and anyone with Māori heritage and individuals to their ancestors, tribes, and cultural heritage. They also reflect the cultural evolution in New Zealand over the last 250 years.

    History and conventions of Māori surnames

    Māori surnames have evolved over time, blending traditional customs with growing European influences. Before the 1800s Māori children were given one or more names based on significant events around their birth. These names were often descriptive or related to notable events in their lives or those of their families. As individuals grew up they might receive new names based on their life experience. This naming system did not conform to the European system of surnames[1].

    Maori statue.

    With the arrival of Europeans in the 19th century, adding surnames to Māori names become more common. Various surname conventions emerged[2]:

    • A Māori might take their father's first or given name as their own surname. As an example, if a father's name was Ariki, the surname of their offspring might be Maunga Ariki (literally "Chief of the Mountain").
    • In other cases, Pākehā names (names of people of non-Māori, usually European, descent) were directly translated into the Māori language. Thus, a Pākehā name such as John River could become John Te Awa.
    • Over time as formal documents such as birth, death and marriage certificates were legally required in New Zealand, Māori had no option but to adopt Western-style surnames. Many Māori then chose surnames reflective of their ancestry or had personal significance to them.
    • Other Māori simply adopted Pākehā names outright. This sometimes involved the transliteration of biblical names as Māori converted to Christianity.

    How Māori surnames are useful for the family historian

    Distribution of Māori throughout New Zealand, 2013.

    Understanding variations or patterns in Māori surnames these can provide helpful clues when tracing possible Māori ancestry [3]:

    • Surnames can help you track key features of Māori society and cultural practices as the iwi (tribe), hapū (sub-tribe), marae (meeting grounds associated with a particular iwi), whānau (extended family group, encompassing several generations) and tīpuna (ancestors).
    • Locations where a person, or their tīpuna, were born, grew up, lived, or worked can help explain their whakapapa. Similarly, a Māori whakapapa can offer clues to their geographic origin.
    • Because birth, marriage, and death dates provide a timeline that spans generations they can play a very useful role in accurately identifying a particular individual. This is especially when dealing with common Māori surnames.
    • The surname can help you identify different Māori generations and Māori family relationships. Two people with the same Māori surname born 60 years apart very likely are from different generations. Meanwhile two people with the same Māori surname before marriage each other suggests they were already biologically related.
    • Christianity was traditionally important in the life of some Māori. Understanding the religious affiliations of a particular whānau can lead to potential new sources of information such as church records.

    Some common (and not so common) Māori surnames

    There are various online specialist websites that provide list of common Māori surnames[4]. Among these are Te Hira (nobility and honour); Rangi (sky or heavens); Ngaio (connected to local Ngaio tree, it suggests strength and resilience); Ngata (associated with notable Māori leader Sir Apirana Ngata; and Tāne (a god of forests and birds in Māori mythology).

    Some European surnames, such as Smith, Williams, Jones, Brown and Davis, are also widely observed among the Māori.

    Some unusual Māori surnames[5] you might come across include Rewiti (to bind or secure); Tawhiri (associated with the god of weather); Whakatane (referencing a legendary Māori woman); Aoraki (named after the tallest mountain in New Zealand); Kaihau (speed); and Tūwhare (to listen or pay attention).

    Celebrities with Māori surnames

    Kiri Te Kanawa

    Historical and well-known people with Māori surnames include[6]:

    • Sir Apirana Ngata: prominent New Zealand statesman, Māori leader, and politician.
    • Te Rauparaha: chief and war leader for the Ngāti Toa tribe who played a significant role in shaping New Zealand's political and cultural landscape during the early 19th century.
    • Dame Whina Cooper: inspirational leader and activist who played a crucial role in land rights and Māori sovereignty movements.
    • Taika Waititi: internationally recognised filmmaker, actor, and comedian.
    • Dame Kiri Te Kanawa: world famous opera singer
    • Witi Ihimaera: his novel "The Whale Rider" gained global recognition and has been adapted into a successful film.


    See more

    Explore more about Māori surnames

    The Wiki article, New Zealand provides a general introduction to New Zealand. Meanwhile the article New Zealand genealogy offers helpful background on New Zealand history and cultural development from the perspective of the family genealogist.

    There are several other MyHeritage resources you can use to assist your research into Māori surnames.

    Other online resources specific to Māori surname research include:

    • National Library of New Zealand offers a detailed guide directs you to whakapapa resources available online from the Library and elsewhere, including the Alexander Turnbull Library.
    • Exploregenealogy.co.uk, a general-purpose genealogical research site has a very useful introduction as well as appropriate links to help you to take advantage the Māori records that are available, both online and at various physical locations.
    • FamilySearch, an offshoot of the Mormon Church has a great introduction, Beginning Māori Research, which will help you shift through the various relevant online resources.

    References

    1. ↑ Maori Naming Conventions
    2. ↑ Discover the rich traditions of Maori family names. Hello Kids Fun. (2024, January 1)
    3. ↑ Family history resources. Archives.govt.nz. (n.d.).
    4. ↑ Index of Māori names. Index of Māori Names | University of Waikato. (n.d.).
    5. ↑ 852+ maori last names: Unraveling the Rich Cultural Legacy. BurbanMumz.Com- Positive Parenting for Modern Mothers.
    6. ↑ 15 most famous Maori people. Discover Walks Blog. (2023, February 15).


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