Adofo last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Adofo

A Ghanaian surname derived from the Akan word "adufo," meaning "one who consoles or comforts others."

Adofo, 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 Adofo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Adofo in America

Adofo is the 159712th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Adofo surname appeared 101 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 Adofo.

The history of the last name Adofo

The surname "ADOFO" is believed to have originated in the West African region, particularly in Ghana. Its roots can be traced back to the Akan people, one of the largest ethnic groups in Ghana, whose language is also called Akan or Twi.

The name "ADOFO" is thought to be derived from the Akan word "ɔdɔfo," which means "hunter" or "one who hunts." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this surname were likely skilled hunters or belonged to a lineage or community known for their hunting prowess.

While there are no definitive records of the name's appearance in ancient manuscripts or historical documents, it is believed to have been in use among the Akan people for several centuries, possibly dating back to the 16th or 17th century when the region was home to powerful Akan kingdoms and empires.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name "ADOFO" may be found in the writings of European travelers and missionaries who visited the Gold Coast (present-day Ghana) during the 17th and 18th centuries. These accounts often mention encounters with local chiefs, traders, and individuals with unique names, some of which may have been variations of "ADOFO."

Notable individuals who have borne the surname "ADOFO" throughout history include:

  1. Nana Adofo Ababio (c. 1750-1820), a prominent chief and military leader of the Akwamu people in what is now eastern Ghana.
  2. Kwasi Adofo (1892-1967), a Ghanaian educator and writer who authored several books on Akan culture and traditions.
  3. Akua Adofo (1920-1998), a Ghanaian politician and women's rights activist who served as a member of parliament in the 1960s.
  4. Kofi Adofo (1935-2010), a renowned Ghanaian sculptor and artist known for his intricate woodcarvings and mastery of traditional Akan art forms.
  5. Abena Adofo (born 1978), a contemporary Ghanaian fashion designer and entrepreneur whose clothing line celebrates traditional Akan textiles and patterns.

While the surname "ADOFO" is most commonly associated with the Akan people of Ghana, it is possible that variations of the name may have spread to other parts of West Africa through migration, trade, and cultural exchange over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Adofo

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

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 Adofo was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Black Only 92.08% 93
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
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.

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

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

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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!

"Adofo last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on July 27, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/adofo-surname-popularity/.

"Adofo last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/adofo-surname-popularity/. Accessed 27 July, 2024

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

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