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

Akinpelu, 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 Akinpelu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Akinpelu in America

Akinpelu is the 121590th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Akinpelu surname appeared 142 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 Akinpelu.

The history of the last name Akinpelu

The surname AKINPELU originates from the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. It is believed to have emerged in the 16th century, during the era of the Oyo Empire.

AKINPELU is a compound Yoruba name derived from the words "akin" meaning bravery or valor, and "pelu" meaning to accompany or be with. Thus, the name can be interpreted as "brave companion" or "one who accompanies with bravery."

One of the earliest known references to the AKINPELU name appears in the oral histories and folktales of the Oyo people, which recount the exploits of warriors and leaders bearing this surname. These narratives often described AKINPELU individuals as valiant warriors and loyal companions to their kings and chiefs.

In the 18th century, the AKINPELU name gained prominence among the noble families and ruling class of the Oyo Empire. Notable individuals from this period include Chief Akinpelu Aderibigbe, a respected military commander and advisor to the Alaafin (the paramount ruler) during the reign of Alaafin Abiodun in the late 1700s.

Another historically significant figure was Akinpelu Obateru, a renowned trader and diplomat who facilitated trade agreements between the Oyo Empire and neighboring kingdoms in the early 19th century.

As the Yoruba people dispersed across West Africa and beyond, the AKINPELU surname spread to other regions. In the late 19th century, Reverend Samuel Akinpelu was a pioneering Christian missionary who helped establish churches and schools in present-day Benin Republic.

During the 20th century, the AKINPELU name gained wider recognition through individuals such as Chief Akinpelu Obisesan, a prominent politician and advocate for Nigerian independence, and Professor Akinpelu Ogundeji, a renowned scholar and linguist who contributed significantly to the preservation of Yoruba language and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Akinpelu

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

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

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

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