This List of Indigenous Australian group names contains names and collective designations which have been applied, either formerly or in the past, to group of Indigenous Australians.

Note: It is very important to be aware that the term tribe is really not very useful in indigenous Australia. There are very few cases where there are clear groups that correspond to such a term. In reality most indigenous Australians could name a number of groups of which they are members, each group being defined on different criteria and often with much overlapping. Many of the names listed below are properly understood as language or dialect names, some are simply the word meaning 'man/person' in the associated language, some are autonyms (i.e. the name as used by the people themselves), some are exonyms (i.e., names used by one group for another, and not by that group itself), while others are terms for people from a specific area.

For further detailed overview and descriptions of some of these groups, see Indigenous peoples of Australia

A

Group name	Alternative names and/or component (sub-)groups	Geographical location	AIATSIS region
Airiman	Wagiman	Northern Territory	Fitzmaurice
Ajabakan	Aiabakan, Bakanu, Baganu, Bakanh	Queensland	West Cape
Ajabatha	Aiabadu, Aiyaboto, Jabuda, Koka Ai-ebadu, Aiebadu, Koko Aiebadu, Kikahiabilo, Bakanh	Queensland
Alawa	Alaua, Allawa, Allaua, Allua, Allowa, Alowa, Leealowa, Kallaua, Allowiri, Allaura, Galleewo	Northern Territory	Desert
Alura	Allura Alura, Hallura, Nallura, Jaminjung	Northern Territory
Alyawarre	Iliaura, Illiaura, Iljaura, Ilyaura, Ilyowra Illyowra, Illura, Aliawara, Alyawara, Alyawarra, Ilawara, Jaljuwara, Yalyuwara, Alyawarr	Northern Territory	Desert
Amangu	Emangu, Amandyo, Ying, Champion Bay, Geraldton	Western Australia	Southwest
Amarak	Amarag, Amuruk, Amurag, Amurrak, Ngamurak, Ngamurag, Umuriu, Umoreo	Northern Territory	North
Amijangal	Ami, Amijangal	Northern Territory
Anaiwan	Anaywan, Anewan, Nowan, Enni-won, Yenniwon, Ee-na-won, En-nee-win, Eneewin, Inuwan, Inuwon, Neeinuwon, Enuin, Nganyayawana	New South Wales	Southeast
Andakerebina	Antakiripina, Undejerebina, Andeberegina, Walwallie, Andakerebina, Andegerebenha	Northern Territory	Desert
Andinyin		Western Australia
Adnyamathanha	(Jadliaura ?) Wailpi	South Australia	Spencer
Anguthimri	Jupangati	Queensland	West Cape
Ankamuti	Goomkoding, Yukamakundji, Amkomti, Ondaima, Oiyamkwi, Apukwi, Anggamudi	Queensland	West Cape
Anmatyerre	Nmatjera, Unmatjera, Inmatjera, Anmatjara, Urmitchee, Janmadjara, Janmatjiri, Yanmedjara, Yandmadjari, Anmatjera	Northern Territory	Desert
Antakirinja	Antakerinya, Antakerrinya, Andagirinja, Andagarinja, Andekerinja, Andegilliga, Andigirinji Antingari, Andigari Anjirigna, Andgari Antigari, Antegarina, Unterregerrie, Ngonde, Tangara, Yandairunga, Njuntundjara, Andagerinja Antekerrepinhe Andergerebenha, Aluna, Andigerinya Antekarinya Antikirinya	South Australia	Desert
Araba	Arap, Aripa, Ngariba	Queensland
Arabana	Ngarabana, Arabuna Arrabunna, Arrabonna, Arubbinna, Arapina, Arapani, Urapuna Urabuna, Urabunna Urroban, Wangarabana, Wongkurapuna, Wangarabunna, Jendakarangu, Nulla, Yendakarangu, Peake, Anna	South Australia	Eyre
Arakwal	Arakwal, Naiang, Cool-al, Kahwul, Njung, Nyung, Lismore, Kogung, Yawkum-yore, Jawjumeri	New South Wales
Arrernte	Aranda, Aranta, Arrente, Arunda, Arunta, Arranda, Arinta, Arrinda, Urrundie, Herinda, Arrundta, Wonggaranda, Urrundie, Ilpma, Ulpma, Paroola, Wongkatjeri	Central Australia	Desert
Arnga	Woljamidi, Woljamiri, Molyamidi, Kuluwara, Kuluwaran, Guluwarin, Kolaia, Arawari, Arawodi	Western Australia
Atjinuri	Adjinadi, Itinadjana, Itinadyana, Itinadyand, Nedgulada, Imatjana	Queensland
Awabakal	Awabakal, Awaba, Awabagal, Lake Macquaire Newcastle, Kuring-gai, Ninyowa, Kuri	New South Wales	Southeast
Awarai	Warai, Warei, Warrai, Awarrai, Awarra	Northern Territory
Awinmul	Awinnmull Awinmul, Awinmil	Northern Territory
Awngthim		Queensland	West Cape

B

Return to top of page

D

E

G

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

R

S

T

U

W

Y

See also

References

1. signifies the name is one of the names used on the widely used map by David Horton in 1994 published in The Encyclopedia of Aboriginal Australia by AIATSIS. This map also divides Australia into 18 regions (Southwest, Northwest, Desert, Kimberley, Fitzmaurice, North, Arnhem, Gulf, West Cape, Torres Strait, East, Rainforest, Northeast, Eyre, Riverine, Southeast, Spencer and Tasmania); the region of the tribes which are depicted in this map are shown below.
2. signify the name is the main name used in Norman Tindale's "Catalogue of Australian Aboriginal Tribes" , in his book Aboriginal Tribes of Australia. Their Terrain, Environmental Controls, Distribution, Limits, and Proper Names published in 1974. (Each has a separate article under the name listed there, and other alternate names are also listed.) In most cases below (but not all) the name in the left column "Group name" is also the main name used by Tindale.
3. AusAnthrop Australian Aboriginal tribal database - Jaburara. AusAnthrop. Retrieved on 2008-06-21..

External links

• ausanthrop.net (tribal names and sub-groups)
• Normal B. Tindale's Catalogue of Australian Tribes (locations) with Tribal map
• AIATSIS map showing the locations of the various groups