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

Akinsanya, 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 Akinsanya surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Akinsanya in America

Akinsanya is the 88336th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Akinsanya surname appeared 210 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 Akinsanya.

We can also compare 2010 data for Akinsanya 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 Akinsanya

The surname AKINSANYA is of Yoruba origin, originating in southwestern Nigeria. It dates back several centuries and is a combination of two Yoruba words - 'Akin', meaning brave or valiant, and 'sanya', meaning to follow or pursue.

The name likely originated in the Yoruba kingdoms of the 16th or 17th century and was given to individuals who exhibited qualities of bravery and determination. It may also have been bestowed upon warriors or individuals who pursued and protected their communities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name AKINSANYA can be found in the oral traditions and folklore of the Yoruba people, which were passed down through generations of griots and storytellers. These tales often featured characters with the name, highlighting their courageous deeds and unwavering spirit.

In the late 18th century, the name AKINSANYA appeared in written records kept by the British colonial administration in Nigeria. These records documented individuals with this surname who held positions of authority or prominence within various Yoruba communities.

Notable individuals with the surname AKINSANYA throughout history include Adegoke AKINSANYA (1899-1978), a prominent Nigerian lawyer and politician who played a significant role in the country's independence movement. Another individual of note was Olufemi AKINSANYA (1925-2001), a renowned Nigerian artist and sculptor whose works celebrated Yoruba culture and traditions.

During the 19th century, the AKINSANYA name was also found in records kept by Christian missionaries operating in the region. These records often documented the baptisms and conversions of individuals with this surname.

Other notable figures include Adekunle AKINSANYA (1918-2004), a highly respected Nigerian academic and author who made significant contributions to the study of Yoruba language and literature. Additionally, Simisola AKINSANYA (1943-2021) was a celebrated Nigerian journalist and broadcaster who played a pivotal role in shaping the country's media landscape.

The AKINSANYA surname continues to be widely present in Nigeria, particularly in the southwestern region, and among the Yoruba diaspora around the world. Its rich history and symbolic meaning have made it a source of pride and cultural identity for those who bear this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Akinsanya

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!