Family and clan
Somali clan tree: every clan, sub-clan and lineage
The Somali clan tree runs from the clan family down to the diya-paying group that pays blood money together. Jan Abbink's Total Somali Clan Genealogy (Leiden, 2009) names about 850 groups, and ACLED's 2025 list about 430. This page and its six family pages give both in full, with each source's own placement.
Download the numbers (CSV)Plain text (Markdown)
What this tree is
Somalis trace descent through the father's line. Counting the fathers is called abtirsiinyo or abtirsiimo, "the counting of fathers" (Abbink, The Total Somali Clan Genealogy, 2nd edition, 2009, p. 2).
The most detailed published tree is by the anthropologist Jan Abbink of the African Studies Centre in Leiden. It names about 850 groups, from the clan families down to the groups that pay blood money together. The conflict-data project ACLED published its own list of about 430 clan groups in 2025 (ACLED clan actor list, September 2025).
This page gives both lists in full, family by family. Each group sits where that source places it. Where the sources place a group differently, both placements are shown. The download holds every row with its source.
How to read it
Abbink uses six levels (Abbink 2009, pp. 5-6):
| Level | What it means |
|---|---|
| Clan family | The largest group, such as Dir or Hawiye |
| Division | Two "moieties" or territorial parts of a family, where there are any |
| Clan | Called qabiil or qolo in Somali |
| Sub-clan | A branch of a clan |
| Lineage | A branch of a sub-clan |
| Sub-lineage or diya-paying group | The group that pays blood money (mag) together, often called jilib or reer |
Abbink writes that diya-paying groups "typically range from c. 1000 to 4000 people" (p. 6). He adds that people "know their clan and clan family" and their own lineage, "but the levels in-between may be fused or telescoped" (p. 6).
Two marks in his tree are shown here in words. A name with a question mark "could not be confirmed from more than one source", in Abbink's words. The sign -/- means "intervening ancestors or nodes in a line are omitted" (p. 7).
Some lines are traced through a mother, called bah in Somali. Abbink gives the Hawiye Bah Girei and Bah Arbera as examples (p. 5).
What the sources say about the tree itself
Abbink writes that his tree "does not purport to be an accurate historical tree at any specific point in time" (Abbink 2009, p. 2). He notes that groups join other lines through heer (contract) and sheegad (adoption). Over time some lines split off and others are "telescoped" (p. 3).
He quotes two views on how far the tree is history. I. M. Lewis found that northern genealogies contain "a very significant basis in fact". A. O. Mansur wrote that the system is "mythic" and "the fruit of the nomadic pastoral life" (pp. 2-4).
The World Bank says "there is no clear agreement on the clan and subclan structures" (World Bank 2005, Appendix 2).
The top of the tree
Abbink traces all Somalis to Hiil, a "mythical" first ancestor. From Hiil come Samaale and, "often, on the same level", Sab (Abbink 2009, p. 11).
| Line | Families Abbink places under it |
|---|---|
| Saab | Digil, Rahanweyn, Tunni |
| Irir, son of Samaale | Dir, Isaaq, Hawiye |
| Darod | Harti and Ogaden, Marehan |
| "Pre-Hawiya" | Gardere, Yakabur, Mayle |
The EUAA counts five large families: Dir, Isaaq, Darod, Hawiye and Rahanweyn (EUAA Country Guidance, 2025). Each has its own page: Dir, Isaaq, Darod, Hawiye and Rahanweyn.
The tree, family by family
The full lists are on one page per clan family. Each page gives Abbink's tree and ACLED's 2025 list for that family, level by level (Abbink 2009; ACLED, September 2025).
- Dir
- Isaaq
- Darod
- Hawiye
- Rahanweyn, Digil and Tunni
- Groups outside the clan families, and the Somali Bantu
The World Bank charts
The World Bank printed two charts from Somali research partners in 2005 (World Bank 2005, Appendix 2).
| Family | South-central partner (CRD) | Puntland partner (PDRC) |
|---|---|---|
| Darod | Kablalah (Koombe, Kumade), Sade (Marehan, Facaye), Leelkase | Marehan, Awrtable, Leelkase, Harti, Ogaden |
| Hawiye | Karanle (Murusade), Gugundhabe (Badi Adde, Jidle, Jejele), Haskul, Gorgate (Abgal, Habar Gidir, Sheekhaal, Duduble, Ujejen), Rarane, Jambeele; associates Hawadle, Gaaljecel, Ajuran, Degoodi | Habar Gidir, Abgaal, Mururusade, Hawaadle, Ujuuran |
| Dir | Isaaq (Garxajis, Habar Jeclo, Habar Awal, Habar Tol Jaclo), Isse, Gadsan, Ortoble, Gadabursi, Biyomal, Qubeys | Gadabursi, Iise, Biyamaal |
| Isaaq | Placed under the Dir | Habar Yoonis, Habar Awal, Habar Tol Jaalo, Habar Jaalo, Iidagale |
| Rahanweyn | One family: Digil (Geledi, Tunni, Garre, Jiiddo, Begedi, Shanta Aleen) and Mirifle (17 sub-clans) | Rahanweyn and Digil as two families |
Where sources differ
- The Isaaq. The World Bank's south-central chart places the Isaaq under the Dir. Its Puntland chart, Abbink and ACLED show the Isaaq as a family of their own.
- Digil and Rahanweyn. Abbink shows Digil, Rahanweyn and Tunni as three families under Saab. ACLED and the south-central chart put the Digil and Mirifle under one Rahanweyn family. The Puntland chart shows two families.
- The Hawadle and Ajuran. Abbink places the Hawadle in a "pre-Hawiya" group and the Ajuraan under the Hawiye Jambelle. The south-central chart calls both "Hawiye associates". ACLED places the Hawadle under the Hawiye.
- Murusade and Karanle. Abbink puts Murosade beside Karanle. The south-central chart and Wikipedia put Murusade under Karanle.
- Spellings. The same group can appear in several spellings, such as Habr Gidir and Habar Gidir, or Abgal and Abgaal. ACLED's list gives its older spellings for many groups; they are in the download.
Download
Every row on this page and the six family pages is in somali-clan-tree.csv. The file also holds the clan trees printed on Wikipedia's Dir, Isaaq, Darod, Hawiye and Rahanweyn pages, row by row as indented there (backup). It has these columns:
| Column | What it holds |
|---|---|
| group | The group's name, as the source spells it |
| clan_family | The family the source places it in |
| lineage_path | Its full line from the family down, as the source gives it |
| source | Abbink 2009, ACLED 2025, World Bank 2005 (CRD or PDRC chart), or Wikipedia (backup) |
| source_note | The source's own marks, and ACLED's older names for the group |
Read more
Sources
- Abbink, The Total Somali Clan Genealogy, 2nd edition, 2009, p. 2 · hdl.handle.net
- ACLED clan actor list, September 2025 · acleddata.com
- World Bank 2005, Appendix 2 · openknowledge.worldbank.org
- EUAA Country Guidance, 2025 · euaa.europa.eu
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Where this matters
- Muqdisho (Mogadishu) and BanaadirMogadishu (Muqdisho) is Somalia's capital and makes up the Banadir region, with about 2.97 million people in 20 districts.
- Boorama (Borama) and AwdalAwdal is the far north-west region, on the borders with Djibouti and Ethiopia, with Borama (Boorama) as its capital and about 300,000 to 636,000 people.
- Hargeysa (Hargeisa) and Woqooyi GalbeedWoqooyi Galbeed is the north-western region that holds Hargeisa (Hargeysa) and the port of Berbera, with about 1 to 1.45 million people.
- Burco (Burao) and TogdheerTogdheer is the northern region around Burco (Burao), with about 894,874 people including Buuhoodle.
- Laascaanood (Las Anod) and SoolSool is a region in the north with Las Anod (Laascaanood) as its capital and about 571,000 people.
- Ceerigaabo (Erigavo) and SanaagSanaag is a region on the northern coast with Erigavo (Ceerigaabo) as its capital and about 446,000 people.
- Boosaaso (Bosaso) and BariBari is Puntland's north-east region, with the port city of Bosaso (Boosaaso) as its capital and about 1.28 million people.
- Garoowe (Garowe) and NugaalNugaal is the region around Garoowe (Garowe), Puntland's capital, with about 656,910 people in three districts.
- Gaalkacyo (Galkayo) and MudugMudug is a region of central Somalia with about 1.5 million people, split between Puntland in the north and Galmudug in the south.
- Dhuusamarreeb (Dhusamareb) and GalgaduudGalgaduud is a region of central Somalia in Galmudug State, with Dhusamareb (Dhuusamarreeb) as its capital and about 845,000 people.
- Beledweyne (Belet Weyne) and HiiraanHiiraan is a region of Hirshabelle State on the Shabelle river, with Beledweyne as its capital and about 505,000 to 598,000 people.
- Jowhar (Johar) and Middle ShabelleMiddle Shabelle is the farming region along the Shabelle river north of Mogadishu, with Jowhar as its capital and about 1 to 1.26 million people.
- Marka (Merca) and Lower ShabelleLower Shabelle is Somalia's biggest farming region, along the Shabelle river south-west of Mogadishu, with Marka (Merca) as its capital and about 835,000 to…
- Baydhabo (Baidoa) and BayBay is a farming region in South West State, with Baidoa (Baydhabo) as its main city and about 1.25 to 1.8 million people.
- Xuddur (Hudur) and BakoolBakool is a region in South West State, on the border with Ethiopia, with Xudur (Hudur) as its capital.
- Garbahaarrey (Garbaharey) and GedoGedo is the south-western region on the borders with Kenya and Ethiopia, with Garbahaarrey as its capital and about 1 million people.
- Bu'aale (Buale) and Middle JubaMiddle Juba is a farming region on the Juba river in the south, with about 447,000 people.
- Kismaayo (Kismayo) and Lower JubaLower Juba is the far southern region on the border with Kenya, with the port city of Kismayo (Kismaayo) as its capital and about 1.2 million people.
Same era
- Australia18,401 people of Somali ancestry and 8,101 born in Somalia lived in Australia at the 2021 Census, more than half in Victoria. History, work, issues.
- Birmingham (Somali diaspora)About 17,000 to 21,600 Somalis live in Birmingham (Census 2021), mostly in Nechells, Newtown, Small Heath and Alum Rock. History, work, health and ties home.
- Bristol (Somali diaspora)9,167 people in Bristol identified as Somali or Somalilander in Census 2021, the city's largest minority group. Where they live, work, housing, leaders and ties home.
- Calgary, Alberta, Canada2,845 people of Somali origin lived in Calgary at the 2021 Census, plus 890 in Brooks. How they came, who serves them and what they face.
- Denmark (Somali diaspora)21,885 people of Somali origin lived in Denmark in 2026, half born there. Numbers, history, work, permit reviews, and ties home.
- DjiboutiAbout 13,900 refugees from Somalia live in Djibouti (Aug 2026): numbers since 1990, Ali Addeh, Holl-Holl, the 2017 refugee law, Arta 2000 and 2025 returns.
Keep reading
- Somali clan tree: DarodEvery Darod clan, sub-clan and lineage in Abbink 2009 and ACLED 2025, level by level, as one part of the Somali clan tree.
- Somali clan tree: DirEvery Dir clan, sub-clan and lineage in Abbink 2009 and ACLED 2025, level by level, as one part of the Somali clan tree.
- Somali clan tree: groups outside the clan familiesGroups Abbink places outside the Somali clan families, and the Somali Bantu groups in ACLED 2025: part of the Somali clan tree.
- Somali clan tree: HawiyeEvery Hawiye clan, sub-clan and lineage in Abbink 2009 and ACLED 2025, level by level, as one part of the Somali clan tree.
- Somali clan tree: IsaaqEvery Isaaq clan, sub-clan and lineage in Abbink 2009 and ACLED 2025, level by level, as one part of the Somali clan tree.
- Somali clan tree: Rahanweyn, Digil and TunniEvery Rahanweyn, Digil and Tunni clan, sub-clan and lineage in Abbink 2009 and ACLED 2025, level by level, as one part of the Somali clan tree.