Surnames by language

Okpara is a name of Nigerian origin. Among the Igbo people, its subgroups, and the Ikwerre people, it was traditionally given to the firstborn son, becoming a patronymic surname during the colonial era. Anambra peoples use the variant “Okpala,” while the Afikpo, Aro, Bende, and Ngwa people use “Okwara.” The spelling Opara is common in Owerri, though its pronunciation is identical to Okpara.