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

Ajani, 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 Ajani surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ajani in America

Ajani is the 65244th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ajani surname appeared 304 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 Ajani.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ajani 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 Ajani

The surname AJANI has its origins in West Africa, with the name believed to have emerged from the Yoruba people of present-day Nigeria and Benin during the 15th century. The name is derived from the Yoruba word "Aja," which refers to a group of people who migrated from the region now known as Togo.

Records from the Kingdom of Dahomey, a prominent Yoruba state in the 17th and 18th centuries, suggest that AJANI was a relatively common surname among the nobility and ruling classes. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the writings of Dutch explorer Willem Bosman, who documented his travels through the region in the late 1600s.

During the transatlantic slave trade, many Yoruba people were forcibly transported to the Americas, carrying their surnames with them. As a result, the name AJANI can be found in historical records from various Caribbean islands and parts of South America, such as Brazil, where Yoruba cultural influences were significant.

One notable individual bearing the AJANI surname was Olaudah Equiano, a former slave who became a prominent abolitionist and author in the late 18th century. Born in present-day Nigeria around 1745, Equiano's autobiography, "The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano," provided a powerful account of his experiences and contributed to the growing anti-slavery movement.

Another historical figure with the AJANI surname was Nana Asma'u, a Nupe Muslim scholar, and princess who lived in present-day Nigeria in the early 19th century. Known for her poetry and influence in promoting education, especially for women, Nana Asma'u left a lasting impact on Nupe culture and Islamic teachings.

In the late 19th century, Kweku Ajani, a Ghanaian trader, and businessman played a significant role in the establishment of the Fante Confederation, a political alliance among various Akan states in present-day Ghana. His efforts contributed to the development of trade and commerce in the region.

Additionally, the AJANI surname can be found in various historical records from other parts of West Africa, including modern-day Benin, Togo, and Ghana, reflecting the widespread influence and migration of the Yoruba people and their descendants across the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ajani

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

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

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

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