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

Ajanaku, 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 Ajanaku surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ajanaku in America

Ajanaku is the 114424th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ajanaku surname appeared 153 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 Ajanaku.

The history of the last name Ajanaku

The surname AJANAKU is believed to have originated in the Yoruba ethnic group of Nigeria. It is a combination of two words – "Aja" meaning "wealth or prosperity" and "naku" meaning "has arrived." The name likely emerged in the 15th or 16th century during the height of the Oyo Empire, one of the most influential Yoruba kingdoms in what is now southwestern Nigeria.

Some of the earliest known references to the AJANAKU name can be found in oral histories and genealogical records kept by Yoruba communities. These suggest that the name was initially given to individuals who had achieved significant wealth or status, perhaps through successful trading ventures or military conquests.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the AJANAKU name is from the late 17th century, when an individual named Oluwole AJANAKU was mentioned in historical accounts as a prominent merchant and landowner in the city of Oyo. He was said to have been a respected figure in the community, known for his business acumen and philanthropic efforts.

In the 19th century, the AJANAKU name gained further prominence with the rise of Madam Tinubu AJANAKU, a powerful businesswoman and political figure in the Lagos area. She was born around 1805 and played a crucial role in the development of early colonial Lagos, using her wealth and influence to shape the city's economy and politics.

Another notable AJANAKU was Reverend Samuel Ajayi AJANAKU, a pioneering educator and clergyman who lived from 1849 to 1921. He established several schools in the Lagos area and was instrumental in promoting Western-style education among the Yoruba people.

In more recent history, Chief Obafemi AJANAKU, who lived from 1909 to 1987, was a prominent Nigerian politician and nationalist leader. He played a key role in the country's struggle for independence from British colonial rule and served as the first president of the Western Region of Nigeria after independence in 1960.

While the AJANAKU name has its roots in the Yoruba culture of southwestern Nigeria, it has since spread to other parts of the country and beyond through migration and intermarriage. However, its historical ties to the Yoruba people and the meanings associated with its constituent words remain an integral part of its identity.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ajanaku

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!