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

Ajayi, 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 Ajayi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ajayi in America

Ajayi is the 17502nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ajayi surname appeared 1,610 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Ajayi.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ajayi 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 Ajayi

The surname AJAYI originates from the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. It can be traced back to the 15th century in the region that is now modern-day Ogun State and Lagos State. The name is derived from the Yoruba word "Aja," meaning a skilled person or warrior, and "Iyi," meaning to live or reside.

The earliest recorded instances of the AJAYI surname can be found in oral traditions and historical accounts from the Oyo Empire and the Ijebu Kingdom. The name is associated with notable warriors, chiefs, and community leaders during this era. One of the earliest documented individuals bearing the name was Ajayi Ogundele, a renowned warrior and military commander who lived in the late 16th century.

Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, the AJAYI name appeared in various records and manuscripts kept by local chiefs and rulers in the Yoruba region. These documents often chronicled important events, lineages, and the exploits of notable individuals within the community.

In the 19th century, the name gained further prominence with individuals such as Ajayi Crowther (1809-1891), a renowned linguist, scholar, and the first African bishop of the Anglican Church. Another notable figure was Ajayi Agbede (1845-1917), a prominent trader and community leader in the city of Lagos.

During the 20th century, several individuals with the AJAYI surname made significant contributions in various fields. These include Ajayi Ade Akinwande (1900-1962), a respected educator and writer; Ajayi Crowther Awolowo (1909-1967), a prominent Anglican priest and theologian; and Ajayi Festus Ajayi (1927-2021), a renowned historian and academic who served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos.

Other notable individuals with the AJAYI surname include Ajayi Babalola (1904-1959), a renowned evangelist and founder of the Christ Apostolic Church, and Ajayi Bamidele (born 1954), a Nigerian politician and former member of the House of Representatives.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ajayi

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

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

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

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