Mensah

Mensah is a surname of Akan origin, widely used in Ghana and among Akan-speaking communities in West Africa and the Ghanaian diaspora. It is common among ethnic groups such as the Ashanti and Fante, and in some families it is also used as a given name.

Within Akan naming practices, surnames often reflect lineage, clan affiliation, or ancestral connections. As a result, Mensah functions primarily as a family name that signals a hereditary link rather than a geographic or occupational origin; the precise meaning can vary between lineages.

Today the name is found throughout Ghana and in communities around the world where Ghanaians have migrated, including Europe, North America, and other parts of Africa. The spread mirrors broader patterns of Akan emigration and settlement.

Notable people with the surname come from various fields—politics, sports, business, and academia—reflecting the name's prominence in modern Ghanaian society. In some records, as with many West African names, spelling and transliteration may vary slightly, but Mensah remains the standard form in most Ghanaian communities.