Where does “African” come from?

African comes from Old English Africanas, a term for inhabitants of Africa whose ultimate origin and earliest meaning are not documented.

African (English): Of or pertaining to Africa; Black; synonym of...

Definitions

Step	Language	Word	Meaning
1	Old French	Affrican	African person
2	Latin	africanus	African
3	Latin	Āfrica	—
4	Latin	āfricus	—
5	Latin	Āfri	—
6	Albanian	afër	at, beside, by, near, nearby, near to, next to
7	Proto-Albanian	apsera	at, beside, by, near, nearby, near to, next to
8	Proto-Albanian	aps	—
9	Latin	Apis	—
10	Ancient Greek	Ἄπις	—
11	Coptic	ϩⲁⲡⲉ	—
12	Egyptian	ḥp	—