Oyelowo

Oyelowo is a surname of Yoruba origin. It is used by people of Yoruba heritage, primarily in southwestern Nigeria and among the Yoruba diaspora in countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States. Like many Yoruba names, Oyelowo is linked to cultural identity and may carry meaning related to family lineage or circumstance of birth, though a single authoritative translation is not widely documented.

Notable bearers include David Oyelowo (born 1976), a British-Nigerian actor whose screen work spans film and television. He is best known for portraying Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma (2014) and for leading roles in other productions such as A United Kingdom (2016).

The surname reflects Yoruba naming practices and is part of the broader tradition of Yoruba family names, which remain common among Yoruba people both in Nigeria and in the diaspora.