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

Akinyele, 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 Akinyele surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Akinyele in America

Akinyele is the 126018th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Akinyele surname appeared 136 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 Akinyele.

The history of the last name Akinyele

The surname Akinyele originated in the Yoruba ethnic group of southwestern Nigeria. It is a combination of two Yoruba words: "akin" meaning "valor" or "bravery," and "iye" meaning "source" or "mother." The name likely emerged in the 15th or 16th century when such descriptive surnames became common among the Yoruba people.

Akinyele is believed to have been a title bestowed upon individuals who displayed exceptional courage and bravery in battle or other significant endeavors. The name may have been given as a way to honor one's lineage and the source of their bravery, which was seen as a highly valued trait in Yoruba culture.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Akinyele can be found in the Oyo Empire's oral traditions and historical accounts. The Oyo Empire was a prominent Yoruba empire that existed between the 16th and 19th centuries, and it is likely that individuals bearing the Akinyele surname played significant roles within this empire.

In the 17th century, an influential Yoruba leader named Akinyele Ologun (dates unknown) was said to have led a successful military campaign against rival kingdoms. His bravery and strategic leadership earned him the title "Akinyele," which was later adopted as a surname by his descendants.

Another notable figure with the Akinyele surname was Akinyele Sodipo (1861-1938), a prominent Yoruba chief and political leader who played a crucial role in the negotiations between the Yoruba people and the British colonial administration in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

In the 20th century, Akinyele Oluwole Umoren (1912-1995) was a Nigerian judge and legal scholar who served as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria from 1972 to 1980. He was widely respected for his expertise in Nigerian customary law and his contributions to the country's legal system.

Adekunle Akinyele (born 1948) is a Nigerian writer and academic who has authored several books on Yoruba culture, history, and literature. He has received numerous awards and recognition for his work in preserving and promoting Yoruba cultural heritage.

Lastly, Akinyele Yomi-Olunsi (born 1976) is a Nigerian-American rapper and musician known for his unique blend of Yoruba and English lyrics. He has released several successful albums and has helped to bring Yoruba culture and language to a wider audience through his music.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Akinyele

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

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

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

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