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

Akanbi, 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 Akanbi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Akanbi in America

Akanbi is the 107669th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Akanbi surname appeared 165 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 Akanbi.

We can also compare 2010 data for Akanbi 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 Akanbi

The surname Akanbi has its origins in the Yoruba ethnic group of southwestern Nigeria. It is a traditional Yoruba name that dates back several centuries. The name is derived from the Yoruba words "akan" meaning "firstborn" and "bi" meaning "to give birth to".

The name Akanbi was likely first used to refer to the firstborn child in a family, particularly a firstborn son. It emerged as a surname during the period when Yoruba communities adopted hereditary surnames, which is believed to have occurred sometime in the 18th or 19th century.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Akanbi can be found in historical records and documents from the region now known as Oyo State, Nigeria. This area was once part of the powerful Oyo Empire, a Yoruba kingdom that flourished between the 16th and 19th centuries.

One notable historical figure with the surname Akanbi was Akanbi Olugbade, a prominent Yoruba chief and military leader who lived in the late 18th century. He played a crucial role in the defense of the Oyo Empire against invading forces from the neighboring Nupe and Fulani empires.

Another individual of historical significance was Akanbi Agbaje, a Yoruba trader and merchant who lived in the early 19th century. He was involved in the lucrative trade routes that connected the interior of West Africa with the coastal regions, facilitating the exchange of goods such as kola nuts, textiles, and agricultural products.

In the early 20th century, Akanbi Akindele was a renowned Yoruba educator and advocate for literacy and education. He established several schools in the region and played a pivotal role in promoting education among the Yoruba people.

During the colonial era in Nigeria, Akanbi Adekunle was a prominent Yoruba chief who worked to preserve Yoruba cultural traditions and customs in the face of colonial rule. He was also instrumental in mediating disputes between the British colonial authorities and local communities.

More recently, Akanbi Ayeni was a celebrated Yoruba artist and sculptor who lived from 1928 to 2012. His works, which often depicted Yoruba mythology and traditional life, are widely acclaimed and can be found in museums and collections around the world.

While the surname Akanbi is most commonly associated with the Yoruba people of Nigeria, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins can be traced back to the rich cultural heritage and history of the Yoruba ethnic group in southwestern Nigeria.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Akanbi

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

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

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

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