Acquaye last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Acquaye

A surname of Ghanaian origin indicating that the bearer's ancestors were sword bearers or warriors.

Acquaye, 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 Acquaye surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Acquaye in America

Acquaye is the 80678th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Acquaye surname appeared 235 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 Acquaye.

We can also compare 2010 data for Acquaye to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 80678 123314 -41.80%
Count 235 129 58.24%
Proportion per 100k 0.08 0.05 46.15%

The history of the last name Acquaye

The surname Acquaye originates from the Akan people of Ghana, West Africa. Its roots can be traced back to the 16th century, when the Akan kingdoms flourished in the region now known as Ghana. The name is believed to have derived from the Akan word "acqua," which means "victory" or "triumph."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Acquaye surname appears in historical accounts of the Ashanti Empire, which dominated present-day Ghana in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Ashanti military leaders and nobles often bore the name Acquaye as a symbol of their bravery and success on the battlefield.

In the 19th century, a notable figure bearing the Acquaye name was Nana Acquaye, a powerful chief of the Ashanti people. He played a significant role in the wars against the British colonial forces, leading his warriors with courage and determination. Although the exact dates of his birth and death are uncertain, historical records suggest he lived during the latter half of the 19th century.

Another prominent individual with the Acquaye surname was Kwame Acquaye, a renowned Ghanaian scholar and diplomat. Born in 1923, Acquaye served as Ghana's ambassador to several countries, including the United States, and was a respected figure in international affairs. He passed away in 2002, leaving behind a legacy as a champion of African unity and development.

During the 20th century, the Acquaye name gained prominence in the field of sports. One such figure was Samuel Acquaye, a talented Ghanaian soccer player who represented his country in international competitions during the 1960s and 1970s. His skill and dedication to the game earned him recognition both within and beyond Ghana's borders.

In more recent times, the name Acquaye has continued to be associated with various fields, including academia, politics, and the arts. One notable example is Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, the former First Lady of Ghana, whose maiden name is Acquaye. Born in 1948, she has been an influential figure in Ghanaian politics and a champion of women's rights.

It is worth noting that while the Acquaye surname has its roots in Ghana, it has spread to other parts of the world due to migration and cultural exchange. However, its origins remain firmly rooted in the rich history and traditions of the Akan people, serving as a testament to their enduring legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Acquaye

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

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 Acquaye was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Black Only 97.02% 228
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Acquaye has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White (S)% 0.00% (S)%
Black 97.02% 95.35% 1.74%
Asian and Pacific Islander 0.00% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Two or More Races (S)% 3.88% (S)%
Hispanic (S)% (S)% (S)%

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 Acquaye was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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"Acquaye last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/acquaye-surname-popularity/.

"Acquaye last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/acquaye-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 December, 2024

Acquaye last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/acquaye-surname-popularity/.

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