Touré is the French transcription of a West African surname (English transcriptions are Turay and Touray). The name is probably derived from tùùré, the word for 'elephant' in Soninké, the language of the Ghana Empire. The clan existed as kings of Zaghari on the middle Niger before the Moroccan invasion of Ghana. A theory of their origin holds that the Touré are descended from the "Roum," pre-Arab North African soldiers, and local women. People Notable people with the name include: Touré (born 1971), American novelist and music journalist Ahmed Touré (born 1987), Ivorian footballer Ahmed Sékou Touré (1922–1984), Guinean politician, first President of Guinea Aïda Touré, Gabonese poet, artist and composer Al Hassan Toure, Australian footballer Alhassane Touré (born 1984), Malian footballer Ali Farka Touré (1939–2006), Malian musician Alioune Touré (born 1978), French footballer Almamy Touré (born 1996), Malian footballer Amadou Touré (born 1982), Burkina Faso footballer Amadou Toumani Touré (1948–2020), Malian politician Aminatou Maïga Touré, Nigerian diplomat Ansu Toure (born 1981), Liberian footballer Askia M. Touré (born 1938), American poet and essayist Assimiou Touré (born 1988), Togolese footballer Bako Touré (1939–2001), Malian footballer Bassala Touré (born 1976), Malian footballer Bassary Touré, Malian economist and politician Cheikh Touré (born 1970), French athlete (long jump) Chérif Touré Mamam (born 1978), Togolese footballer Clémentine Touré (born 1977), Ivorian footballer and football manager Demba Touré (born 1984), Senegalese footballer Doudou Touré (born 1991), Mauritanian footballer Hamadoun Touré, Malian diplomat Hervé Touré (born 1982), French basketball player Ibrahim Touré (1985–2014), Ivorian footballer Ibrahima Touré (born 1985), Senegalese footballer José Touré (born 1961), French footballer Karidja Touré (born 1994), French actress Kolo Touré (born 1981), Ivorian footballer Larsen Touré (born 1984), Guinean footballer Mohamed Toure (born 2004), Australian footballer Mohamed Touré (born 1997), Portuguese footballer Samori Toure (American football) (born 1998), American football player Samory Touré (c. 1830–1900), founder of the Wassoulou Empire Sanoussi Touré (born c.1950), Malian politician Sékou Touré (1934–2003), Ivorian footballer Sidi Touré (born 1959), Malian singer and songwriter Sidya Touré (born 1945), Guinean politician Thomas Touré (born 1993), Ivorian footballer Vieux Farka Touré (born 1981), Malian musician Yaya Touré (born 1983), Ivorian footballer Younoussi Touré (1941–2022), Malian politician Youssouf Touré (born 1986), French footballer Zargo Touré (born 1989), Senegalese footballer See also Touré Embden (born 1966), Haitian American emcee known as MC Tee Touré Kunda, a Senegalese music group Toure' Murry (born 1989), American basketball player Ture (disambiguation) Notes Soninke-language surnames