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

Akanni, 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 Akanni surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Akanni in America

Akanni is the 125282nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Akanni surname appeared 137 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 Akanni.

The history of the last name Akanni

The surname AKANNI originates from the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. It can be traced back to the late 15th century, during the height of the Oyo Empire. The name is derived from the Yoruba words "aka", meaning hand, and "anni", meaning to have or possess. Thus, AKANNI roughly translates to "one who possesses hands" or "skilled craftsman".

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname AKANNI appears in a 16th century Yoruba oral tradition, which mentions an Akanni who was a renowned blacksmith in the city of Oyo-Ile. His metalworking skills were said to be highly sought after by the royal family and local chieftains.

In the 18th century, there are records of an Akanni family residing in the town of Iseyin, which was a major trading center during the era of the Oyo Empire. It is believed that this family may have been descendants of the original blacksmith from Oyo-Ile.

A notable figure bearing the AKANNI surname was Akanni Oyedele (1842-1912), a powerful Yoruba warrior and leader who played a crucial role in the Ekitiparapo War of the late 19th century. He was renowned for his military prowess and strategic acumen, leading his forces to several victories against rival kingdoms.

Another historically significant individual with the AKANNI name was Akanni Doherty (1879-1962), a prominent Nigerian businessman and philanthropist. He founded the Lagos-based Akanni Doherty & Sons Limited, one of the earliest and most successful indigenous trading companies in West Africa.

In the realm of literature, the Yoruba writer and playwright Akinwunmi Akanni (1911-1978) made a notable contribution with his works exploring themes of cultural identity and social commentary. His play "Ọgbọ́n Tẹ́rùnwà" (The Wise Adviser) is considered a classic of Yoruba theater.

The AKANNI surname has also been found in various historical records from neighboring regions, such as the Republic of Benin and Togo, suggesting that the name may have spread beyond its original Yoruba roots through migration and trade routes.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Akanni

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

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

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

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