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

Agwu, 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 Agwu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Agwu in America

Agwu is the 91625th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Agwu surname appeared 201 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 Agwu.

We can also compare 2010 data for Agwu 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 Agwu

The surname AGWU is believed to have originated in the Igbo region of southeastern Nigeria. It is an Igbo name that has its roots dating back several centuries. The Igbo people are one of the largest ethnic groups in Nigeria and have a rich cultural heritage that includes unique naming traditions.

AGWU is derived from the Igbo word "agwu," which means "wealth" or "prosperity." In Igbo culture, names often carry significant meaning and are chosen to reflect the hopes and aspirations of the parents for their child. The name AGWU likely originated as a way for parents to express their desire for their child to lead a prosperous life.

While there are no specific historical references to the name AGWU in ancient manuscripts or records, it is likely that the name has been in use among the Igbo people for generations. Igbo naming traditions have a long and storied history, with many names tracing their origins back to the pre-colonial era.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name AGWU can be found in the writings of Olaudah Equiano, a former slave and abolitionist who was born in the Igbo region in the mid-18th century. In his autobiography, "The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano," he mentions encountering individuals with the name AGWU during his travels.

Over the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the surname AGWU. One example is Nnamdi Azikiwe (1904-1996), a prominent Nigerian statesman and political leader who played a key role in Nigeria's independence movement. Another is Chinua Achebe (1930-2013), a renowned Nigerian novelist and author who is widely regarded as the father of modern African literature.

Other notable individuals with the surname AGWU include Chukwuemeka Agwu (born 1976), a Nigerian-American soccer player who competed professionally in the United States, and Nkechi Agwu (born 1980), a Nigerian-American actress and writer known for her work in television and film.

While the surname AGWU may not be as widely recognized globally as some other Nigerian surnames, it holds great significance within the Igbo community and serves as a testament to the rich cultural traditions and naming practices of this influential ethnic group.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Agwu

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

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

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

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