Find out how popular the last name Ababa is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Ababa.

Ababa, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Ababa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ababa in America

Ababa is the 148347th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ababa surname appeared 111 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Ababa.

The history of the last name Ababa

The surname Ababa is believed to have originated in West Africa, specifically in modern-day Nigeria and Ghana. It can be traced back to the 15th century when it was used by various ethnic groups in the region. Some historians suggest that the name may have derived from the Yoruba word "ababa," which means "a child born after twins."

In the early 16th century, records show the name appearing in Portuguese documents related to the transatlantic slave trade. It is likely that enslaved Africans with this surname were brought to the Americas, where the name continued to be used by their descendants.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Ababa was Kwaku Ababa, a prominent Akan chief who lived in the late 17th century in what is now Ghana. He was known for his leadership and negotiations with European traders.

In the 18th century, the name was recorded in various documents related to the African diaspora in the Caribbean and South America. For instance, Juan Ababa was a freedman who owned a plantation in Cuba in the 1760s.

During the 19th century, the Ababa surname gained more recognition as several individuals made significant contributions. Amos Ababa (1820-1892) was a renowned educator and abolitionist from Sierra Leone who established several schools and fought against the transatlantic slave trade.

Another notable figure was Efunroye Ababa (1845-1918), a Nigerian merchant and philanthropist who funded the construction of schools and hospitals in his hometown.

In the 20th century, the Ababa name continued to gain prominence. One of the most well-known individuals was Funmilayo Ababa (1900-1978), a Nigerian activist and women's rights leader who played a crucial role in the country's independence movement.

Additionally, Kwame Ababa (1925-2005) was a celebrated Ghanaian writer and poet whose works explored themes of identity, culture, and post-colonialism.

It's important to note that the Ababa surname has been subject to various spelling variations over the centuries, including Ababa, Abeba, and Ababa, due to cultural and linguistic differences across different regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ababa

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Ababa.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Ababa was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Ababa was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Ababa, please contact us.

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