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

Adekunle, 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 Adekunle surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Adekunle in America

Adekunle is the 56836th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Adekunle surname appeared 359 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 Adekunle.

We can also compare 2010 data for Adekunle 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.

The history of the last name Adekunle

The surname "ADEKUNLE" has its origins in the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. It is a compound name derived from the Yoruba words "Ade" meaning "crown" or "royalty" and "Kunle" meaning "to fill" or "to suffice." Together, the name can be interpreted to mean "the crown fills" or "the royalty is sufficient."

The earliest recorded instances of the surname "ADEKUNLE" can be traced back to the 15th century, during the height of the Oyo Empire in present-day Nigeria. This was a period when many Yoruba names became more widespread and formalized, as the empire's influence and cultural reach expanded across the region.

Historical records from the Oyo Empire, such as oral traditions and accounts by European travelers, mention individuals with the name "ADEKUNLE" serving in various capacities, including as advisors, chiefs, and warriors. One notable figure was Adekunle Agboluaje, a prominent military commander who lived in the late 16th century and played a crucial role in the expansion of the Oyo Empire's territories.

During the 19th century, the name "ADEKUNLE" gained further prominence with the birth of Adekunle Fajuyi (1926-1966), a Nigerian soldier and politician who served as the first military governor of the Western Region of Nigeria. Fajuyi's tragic death alongside the Prime Minister of Nigeria, Tafawa Balewa, during the Nigerian coup d'état of 1966, cemented his legacy as a national hero.

Other notable individuals with the surname "ADEKUNLE" include Adekunle Ajasin (1908-1997), a Nigerian politician and former governor of the Western State of Nigeria, and Adekunle Ajashin (1887-1963), a prominent Nigerian educator and linguist who contributed significantly to the preservation and promotion of the Yoruba language.

Throughout history, variations of the name "ADEKUNLE" have emerged, reflecting regional dialects and spelling preferences. Some examples include "Adekule," "Adekunle," and "Adekunli." Additionally, the name has been associated with various place names in southwestern Nigeria, such as Adekunle Village in Ogun State and Adekunle Town in Ekiti State.

The surname "ADEKUNLE" continues to be widely used among the Yoruba people and has spread beyond the borders of Nigeria through migration and diaspora communities. Its enduring presence serves as a testament to the rich cultural heritage and linguistic traditions of the Yoruba people.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Adekunle

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

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 Adekunle 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.

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

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

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

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