2000
#134,929
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 115
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Adetunji
One who is revered, respected, or honored by the crown.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 482 Americans carry the last name Adetunji. That puts it at #53,213 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.14 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 711,109 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Adetunji surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Adetunji with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
482
1 in 711,109
Census rank
#53,213
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
420
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 420 bearers of the surname Adetunji in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.14 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 53213th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Adetunji, the largest self-reported group is Black at 95.5%. The next largest groups are White (2.6%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Adetunji
The surname Adetunji originated from the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. It dates back to the 13th century during the reign of the Oyo Empire, one of the most powerful West African kingdoms. Adetunji is a combination of two words: "Ade" meaning "crown" and "Tunji" meaning "He is celebrated," thus translating to "The celebrated crown."
This name was initially given to members of the royal family or those closely associated with the Oyo monarchy. The earliest recorded instances of this surname can be found in historical texts and oral traditions passed down through generations, documenting the lineage of the Oyo rulers.
One notable figure bearing the name Adetunji was Oba Adetunji Alowolodu, who ruled the Oyo Empire from 1770 to 1789. He is remembered for his military prowess and successful campaigns against neighboring kingdoms. Another prominent individual was Adetunji Ogunmola, a renowned warrior and advisor to the Alaafin (ruler) of Oyo in the late 18th century.
As the Yoruba people migrated and settled in different parts of Nigeria and beyond, the surname Adetunji spread across regions. In the 19th century, historical records mention Adetunji Akinwande, a respected chief and landowner in the town of Iwo, who played a significant role in local governance and community affairs.
During the colonial era, the name Adetunji appeared in various administrative and legal documents, such as land deeds and court records. One notable figure from this period was Adetunji Adeleye, a successful businessman and philanthropist who lived in the early 20th century and was instrumental in establishing schools and healthcare facilities in his community.
Another individual of note was Adetunji Ojo, a prominent educator and author born in 1920. He wrote several books on Yoruba culture and language, contributing greatly to the preservation and promotion of his people's heritage.
While the name Adetunji has its roots in Nigerian history, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and globalization. Individuals bearing this surname can trace their ancestral lineage back to the rich cultural and historical traditions of the Yoruba people.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Adetunji
Among Census respondents with the surname Adetunji, the largest self-reported group is Black at 95.5%. The next largest groups are White (2.6%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Adetunji bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Adetunji surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American95.5% · 401
- White2.6% · 11
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.2% · 5
- Two or more races0.7% · 3
Timeline
Historical Census data for Adetunji
Adetunji appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#82,908
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 227
+112 bearers (+97.4%)
Per 100,000 0.08
Rank movement Up 52,021 places
2020
#53,213
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 420
+193 bearers (+85.0%)
Per 100,000 0.14
Rank movement Up 29,695 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #134,929 | 115 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #82,908 | 227 | 0.08 | +112 bearers (+97.4%) | Up 52,021 places |
| 2020 | #53,213 | 420 | 0.14 | +193 bearers (+85.0%) | Up 29,695 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Adetunji surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #82,908 | #53,213 | 35.8% |
| Count | 227 | 420 | 85.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.08 | 0.14 | 75.6% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Adetunji bearers went from 227 to 420 (+85.0% change). The surname moved up 29,695 positions in the national ranking, going from #82,908 to #53,213.
FAQ
Adetunji surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Adetunji?
Name Census estimates that about 482 living Americans carry the surname Adetunji. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 711,109 residents.
How common is Adetunji?
Adetunji ranks #53,213 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.14 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 420 people with the surname Adetunji. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (482), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.14 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.14 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Adetunji.
Has Adetunji become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Adetunji went from 227 recorded bearers to 420. That is an increase of 193 (+85.0%). In the national ranking it rose from #82,908 to #53,213.
What does the Census say about the background of Adetunji?
Among Census respondents with the surname Adetunji, the largest self-reported group is Black at 95.5%. The next largest groups are White (2.6%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.2%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Black is the largest self-reported group for the surname Adetunji in the 2020 Census, accounting for 95.5% (401 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Adetunji appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Black (95.5%), White (2.6%), Asian/Pacific Islander (1.2%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Adetunji (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Adetunji mean?
One who is revered, respected, or honored by the crown. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Adetunji (0.14 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the surname Adetunji?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.