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

Africa, 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 Africa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Africa in America

Africa is the 42579th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Africa surname appeared 509 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 Africa.

We can also compare 2010 data for Africa to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Africa

The surname Africa is believed to have originated from the continent of Africa, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the late 16th century. It is thought that the name was initially given to individuals who hailed from or had connections to the African continent, possibly as a descriptive name or a reference to their place of origin.

One of the earliest documented references to the surname Africa can be found in the records of the British East India Company, where it is mentioned in connection with individuals involved in the company's trade activities in the African region. It is also possible that the name was adopted by some of the early European explorers and travelers who visited and spent time in various parts of Africa.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, the surname Africa began to appear more frequently in various records across Europe, particularly in regions with maritime traditions and involvement in overseas trade and exploration. This suggests that the name may have been carried back to Europe by sailors, merchants, and adventurers who had encountered or interacted with individuals from the African continent.

One notable individual bearing the surname Africa was John Africa, an English sailor and explorer who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He is known for his voyages to the West African coast and his involvement in the establishment of early English trading posts in the region.

Another historical figure with the surname Africa was William Africa, a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars in the early 19th century. He played a significant role in several naval battles against the French and was commended for his bravery and leadership.

In the 19th century, the surname Africa also appeared in some literary works, such as the novel "The African Farm" by Olive Schreiner, published in 1883. The book featured a character named Lyndall Africa, which may have been inspired by the author's familiarity with the surname.

Other notable individuals with the surname Africa include:

1. Robert Africa (c. 1570-1640), an English merchant and explorer who traveled extensively in West Africa and established trade relations with local rulers.

2. Sarah Africa (c. 1640-1710), an English colonist who settled in the Virginia Colony in the late 17th century and is recorded as one of the earliest individuals with the surname in the American colonies.

3. James Africa (1765-1835), a British naval captain who served during the Napoleonic Wars and participated in several important battles, including the Battle of Trafalgar.

4. Mary Africa (1820-1892), an American abolitionist and activist who worked tirelessly to support the Underground Railroad and assist escaped enslaved individuals in their journey to freedom.

5. Samuel Africa (1870-1945), a South African politician and civil rights activist who advocated for the rights of black South Africans during the era of apartheid.

While the surname Africa is relatively uncommon, it has a rich and diverse history, reflecting the connections between individuals, exploration, trade, and the African continent throughout various periods in history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Africa

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

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 Africa 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.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Africa has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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

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

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