Makuria

Derived from Μακουρια (Makouria), which is the hellenized form of the autochthonous name of a Nubian kingdom that existed from the 5th century AD to the late 15th century AD. The original Nubian name is unknown, as is its meaning. It is possible, however, that the kingdom was named after the Μακκοῦραι (Makkourai). They were a Nubian tribe, whose name is also found written as Maccurae, Maccuritae, Makkourae, Makoritae, Makoritaei, Makoritai and Makourai. They were first mentioned in book IV of Claudius Ptolemy's Geographia (2nd century AD) and later in John of Biclaro's account of their conversion to Christianity (6th century AD).

In its day, the kingdom was known as المقرة (al-Muqurra) to the Arabs, which is quite similar to the Greek name for the kingdom. This might possibly indicate that the original Nubian name was probably not much different from its arabized and hellenized forms.