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

Afolayan, 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 Afolayan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Afolayan in America

Afolayan is the 123796th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Afolayan surname appeared 139 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 Afolayan.

The history of the last name Afolayan

The surname AFOLAYAN originated from the Yoruba ethnic group of southwestern Nigeria. It dates back to the 15th century and is derived from the Yoruba words "Afo" meaning "source" and "Ayan" meaning "wealth". The name was originally given to individuals who were considered wealthy or prosperous.

AFOLAYAN is a patronymic surname, meaning it was passed down from father to son. In the early days, it was common for Yoruba people to adopt surnames based on their occupations, personal characteristics, or other distinguishing factors. The AFOLAYAN surname likely identified a family lineage that had achieved financial success or prosperity.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the AFOLAYAN surname can be found in the historical records of the Oyo Empire, which ruled over a significant portion of what is now southwestern Nigeria from the 16th to 19th centuries. During this period, the AFOLAYAN name was associated with influential families and individuals within the empire.

Notable individuals with the AFOLAYAN surname throughout history include Oluwadare AFOLAYAN (1810-1887), a prominent Yoruba chief and warrior who played a significant role in the wars against the Fulani Empire in the 19th century. Another noteworthy figure was Olufunmilayo AFOLAYAN (1890-1964), a renowned educator and women's rights activist who advocated for female education and empowerment in Nigeria.

In the 20th century, Adebayo AFOLAYAN (1924-2006) was a respected academic and author who made significant contributions to the study of Yoruba history and culture. His works are widely cited in scholarly circles. Tunde AFOLAYAN (1939-2020) was a celebrated Nigerian actor and playwright, known for his roles in numerous Yoruba-language films and stage productions.

More recently, Kunle AFOLAYAN (born 1974) is a prominent Nigerian actor, film director, and producer who has received numerous accolades for his contributions to the Nigerian film industry, including the prestigious Africa Movie Academy Award.

While the AFOLAYAN surname has its roots in southwestern Nigeria, it has since spread to other parts of the country and beyond, carried by individuals of Yoruba descent who have migrated or settled in different regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Afolayan

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

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

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

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