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

Akinola, 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 Akinola surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Akinola in America

Akinola is the 50564th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Akinola surname appeared 413 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 Akinola.

We can also compare 2010 data for Akinola 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 Akinola

The surname Akinola has its origins in the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. It is a combination of two Yoruba words: 'Akin' meaning warrior or valiant one, and 'Ola' meaning wealth or fortune. The name can be traced back to the early 16th century during the height of the Oyo Empire in present-day Oyo State and surrounding areas.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Akinola appears in a 17th century manuscript detailing the lineage of Oyo kings and nobles. The document lists an Akinola as a prominent military leader who played a key role in defending the empire against invaders from the north.

In the 18th century, the name Akinola appeared in records from the Kingdom of Benin, suggesting that bearers of the name had migrated or established connections with the Edo people. During this period, variants such as 'Akinolu' and 'Akinolu' were also used.

Historically, the name Akinola has been associated with bravery, leadership, and success in warfare. This is exemplified by notable figures like Akinola Adekunle (1888-1962), a highly decorated Nigerian military officer who served in both World Wars. Another prominent bearer was Akinola Agbaje (1924-2003), a renowned academic and educationist who played a pivotal role in establishing universities in Nigeria.

Other notable individuals with the surname include Akinola Akingbala (1914-2005), a respected traditional ruler and community leader in Ogun State, and Akinola Ogunbayo (1923-2001), a pioneering Nigerian diplomat who served as the country's ambassador to several nations.

The surname Akinola has also been carried by influential figures in the Nigerian church, such as Akinola Adebiyi (1932-2012), who served as the Archbishop of the Anglican Province of Lagos from 1988 to 2002.

While the surname Akinola is most prevalent in southwestern Nigeria, it has also spread to other parts of the country and the world through migration and diaspora communities. The name continues to carry the connotations of its rich historical roots, representing the warrior spirit, success, and cultural heritage of the Yoruba people.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Akinola

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

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

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

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