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

Adenekan, 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 Adenekan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Adenekan in America

Adenekan is the 160975th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Adenekan surname appeared 100 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 Adenekan.

The history of the last name Adenekan

The surname Adenekan originated from the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. It is rooted in the Yoruba language and is believed to have emerged during the 15th or 16th century. The name is a combination of the words "ade" meaning "crown" and "ekan" meaning "watcher" or "guardian," signifying a person who watches over or protects royalty.

References to individuals bearing the Adenekan surname can be found in historical records from the Oyo Empire, a powerful Yoruba kingdom that existed between the 16th and 19th centuries. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the "Itan" (oral histories) of the Oyo Empire, where an Adenekan is mentioned as a trusted advisor to the Alaafin (ruler) in the late 17th century.

During the 18th century, the Adenekan family gained prominence in the Egba region of present-day Ogun State, Nigeria. Notable figures from this period include Adenekan Olufela (c. 1720-1795), a respected warrior and leader who played a crucial role in the defense of the Egba Kingdom against neighboring tribes.

In the 19th century, Adenekan Ogundipe (1810-1879) was a prominent trader and diplomat who facilitated commerce between the Egba people and European merchants. His travels and negotiations helped establish the Egba as a major economic power in the region.

Another notable Adenekan was Adenekan Ademuyiwa (1850-1920), a respected chief and landowner in the town of Abeokuta. He was instrumental in resolving disputes between different factions within the Egba community, and his wisdom and diplomacy were widely praised.

In more recent times, Adenekan Adebiyi (1915-1998) was a celebrated artist and sculptor whose works were widely exhibited and celebrated across Nigeria and beyond. His intricate carvings and sculptures depicting Yoruba culture and mythology are considered masterpieces of African art.

These examples illustrate the historical significance and prominence of the Adenekan surname among the Yoruba people, particularly in the regions of Ogun and Oyo, where it has been associated with leadership, diplomacy, and cultural expression.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Adenekan

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!