Why Nelson Mandela is called Madiba

Nelson Mandela reacts during an interview at his house in Qunu, South Africa, on July 18, 2008.
(Photo: By Themba Hadebe, AP)

Shortly after Nelson Mandela's death Thursday, his clan name Madiba emerged in condolences around the world and became a trending topic on Twitter.

The clan or family name represents a person's ancestry. The meaning is deeper than a surname and is used as a sign of respect and affection. The origin of Madiba comes from a chief who ruled in the 18th century, according to the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

Madiba would be used in "an intimate context," said Richard Pithouse, a politics professor at Rhodes University in South Africa. When Mandela entered school, a teacher gave him the name Nelson. It was customary for Africans to also give children English names back then.