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

Adenuga, 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 Adenuga surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Adenuga in America

Adenuga is the 104602nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Adenuga surname appeared 171 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 Adenuga.

The history of the last name Adenuga

The surname Adenuga originates from the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. It likely emerged in the 13th or 14th century during the founding of the Yoruba city-states. The name is believed to be derived from the words "Ade" meaning "crown" and "nuga" meaning "to prosper or succeed." Together, Adenuga roughly translates to "the prosperous crown."

One of the earliest known references to the name comes from a 16th century account describing a prominent Yoruba family bearing the Adenuga name. This family was said to have held influence and power in the region around the ancient city of Oyo. Some historical linguists suggest the name may have originally been spelled "Adenugan" or a similar variation.

In the 18th century, an Adenuga by the name of Adeyinka Adenuga (c.1730-1789) was recorded as a respected leader and advisor to the Alaafin (king) of Oyo. His role in maintaining peace and prosperity during a period of conflict earned him renown.

Another notable figure was Adegoke Adenuga (1856-1924), a merchant and landowner from the town of Ikorodu. He amassed significant wealth through trade and agriculture, showcasing the prosperous nature implied by the name.

The 19th century also saw Oladipupo Adenuga (1871-1939), a scholar and teacher who helped establish one of the first Western-style schools in the Yoruba region. His efforts in education left a lasting impact.

In more recent times, Adedeji Adenuga (1936-2012) was a renowned writer and playwright. His works, including the play "The Palmwine Drunkard," explored Yoruba culture and traditions.

Finally, Michael Adeniyi Agbolade Ishola Adenuga Jr. (born 1953) is a highly successful Nigerian businessman and entrepreneur. As the founder of Globacom, one of Africa's largest telecommunications companies, he has become one of the wealthiest individuals on the continent, exemplifying the prosperous connotations of his surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Adenuga

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

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

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

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