2010
#97,210
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 187
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.06
Very Rare Last name
Agbor
A surname of African origin, likely indicating a person's place of birth or ancestral home.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 382 Americans carry the last name Agbor. That puts it at #64,521 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.11 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 897,263 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Agbor 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.
Bearers in the US
382
1 in 897,263
Census rank
#64,521
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
333
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 333 bearers of the surname Agbor in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.11 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 64521st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Agbor, the largest self-reported group is Black at 94.9%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.8%) and Hispanic (1.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Agbor
The surname Agbor is of West African origin, specifically from Nigeria. It is believed to have originated in the Edo-speaking region of modern-day Edo State, Nigeria, during the medieval period.
Agbor is derived from the Edo language and is thought to have been a title or designation given to individuals who held a prominent position or role within the community. The name may have its roots in the Edo word "agba," meaning "elder" or "leader."
While there are no known historical references to the surname Agbor in ancient manuscripts or records, it is possible that the name was documented in local oral traditions and genealogies passed down through generations.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Agbor can be traced back to the late 17th century, when a man named Agbor Ogiamen was mentioned in a local chronicle as a respected community leader in the town of Benin City.
Another notable figure from history bearing the surname Agbor was Agbor Emokhai, a skilled artisan and sculptor who lived in the 18th century and was renowned for his intricate woodcarvings and bronze castings.
In the 19th century, Chief Agbor Obaseki was a prominent figure in the region, known for his diplomatic efforts in mediating disputes between neighboring communities and his advocacy for traditional values and customs.
During the colonial era, a man named Agbor Edokpolo gained recognition for his resistance against British colonial rule and his efforts to preserve the autonomy of his people.
Lastly, in the 20th century, Dr. Agbor Osamede made significant contributions to the field of medicine and public health, serving as a physician and advocate for improved healthcare access in rural communities across Nigeria.
While the surname Agbor has its roots in West Africa, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities, carrying with it a rich cultural heritage and history.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Agbor
Among Census respondents with the surname Agbor, the largest self-reported group is Black at 94.9%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.8%) and Hispanic (1.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Agbor 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 Agbor surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American94.9% · 316
- Two or more races1.8% · 6
- Hispanic or Latino1.5% · 5
- White0.9% · 3
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6% · 2
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.3% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Agbor
Agbor appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#64,521
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 333
+146 bearers (+78.1%)
Per 100,000 0.11
Rank movement Up 32,689 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #97,210 | 187 | 0.06 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #64,521 | 333 | 0.11 | +146 bearers (+78.1%) | Up 32,689 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 Agbor 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 | #97,210 | #64,521 | 33.6% |
| Count | 187 | 333 | 78.1% |
| Per 100K | 0.06 | 0.11 | 85.7% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Agbor bearers went from 187 to 333 (+78.1% change). The surname moved up 32,689 positions in the national ranking, going from #97,210 to #64,521.
FAQ
Agbor surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Agbor?
Name Census estimates that about 382 living Americans carry the surname Agbor. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 897,263 residents.
How common is Agbor?
Agbor ranks #64,521 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.11 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 333 people with the surname Agbor. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (382), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.11 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.11 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 Agbor.
Has Agbor become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Agbor went from 187 recorded bearers to 333. That is an increase of 146 (+78.1%). In the national ranking it rose from #97,210 to #64,521.
What does the Census say about the background of Agbor?
Among Census respondents with the surname Agbor, the largest self-reported group is Black at 94.9%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.8%) and Hispanic (1.5%). 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 Agbor in the 2020 Census, accounting for 94.9% (316 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Agbor appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Black (94.9%), Two or More Races (1.8%), Hispanic (1.5%). 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 Agbor (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 Agbor mean?
A surname of African origin, likely indicating a person's place of birth or ancestral home. 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 Agbor (0.11 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 are called Agbor?
For a quick modern take, check how many people have the last name Agbor on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.