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

Agyei, 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 Agyei surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Agyei in America

Agyei is the 47614th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Agyei surname appeared 445 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 Agyei.

We can also compare 2010 data for Agyei 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 Agyei

The surname Agyei is of Akan origin, tracing its roots to the Akan people of West Africa, predominantly found in Ghana. This name gained prominence during the early medieval period, when the Akan established various powerful kingdoms and empires in the region.

Agyei is derived from the Akan word "agyei," which means "leader" or "chief." This name was often bestowed upon individuals who held positions of authority within their communities or demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities. Historically, the Akan people were renowned for their complex social structures, with a well-defined system of chieftaincy and governance.

Variations of the spelling include Agyay, Agyaye, and Agyeye, reflecting the diverse dialects and linguistic nuances among the Akan subgroups. These variations can be found in ancient oral histories, folklore, and written records from the region.

One of the earliest known references to the name Agyei dates back to the 12th century, when a powerful chief named Agyei Anan led a significant migration of Akan people from present-day Burkina Faso to the coastal regions of modern-day Ghana. This migration played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Akan kingdoms and the spread of their cultural influence.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the surname Agyei. In the 16th century, Agyei Kojo was a renowned military strategist who played a crucial role in the expansion of the Ashanti Kingdom, one of the most powerful Akan states. During the 18th century, Agyei Amma was a revered queen mother known for her wise counsel and diplomacy.

In more recent times, Agyei Kwei Arday (1919-2021) was a prominent Ghanaian statesman and diplomat who served as the first African Secretary-General of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. Additionally, Agyei Baffour (1926-2004) was a celebrated Ghanaian playwright and novelist whose works explored themes of identity, tradition, and modernity.

Another notable figure was Agyei Twum (1938-2017), a pioneering Ghanaian economist and academic who made significant contributions to the field of development economics and served as a advisor to various international organizations.

The surname Agyei continues to be widely used among the Akan people of Ghana and their diaspora communities around the world, carrying with it a rich cultural heritage and a legacy of leadership and excellence.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Agyei

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

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

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

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