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

Akpan, 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 Akpan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Akpan in America

Akpan is the 31587th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Akpan surname appeared 732 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 Akpan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Akpan 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 Akpan

The surname AKPAN originated from the Ibibio people of southern Nigeria. It is believed to have derived from the Ibibio word "akpan" which translates to "wealth" or "great wealth". The name can be traced back to the 16th century when it was commonly used by members of the Ibibio nobility and ruling class.

AKPAN is a prominent name among the Ibibio ethnic group, particularly in the modern-day Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria. The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in oral histories and folklore passed down through generations, as well as in some historical records kept by European explorers and traders who visited the region.

One of the earliest known documented references to the name AKPAN can be found in the writings of a Dutch explorer, Pieter de Marees, who visited the region in the late 16th century. He documented the name in his accounts of interactions with local rulers and prominent figures.

Notable figures throughout history who have carried the surname AKPAN include Obong Akpan Edidem Udo Akpan, a prominent Ibibio ruler in the 18th century, and Chief Obong Akpan Ntuen Okon Akpan, a influential leader in the Ibibio community during the 19th century.

Another notable individual is Essien Akpan Essien (1892-1976), a Nigerian educator and political activist who played a significant role in the struggle for independence from British colonial rule. He served as a member of the Eastern House of Assembly and was a vocal advocate for Ibibio rights and self-determination.

In the literary world, Chinua Akpan (born 1983) is a renowned Nigerian author and playwright whose works, such as the critically acclaimed short story collection "Say You're One of Them," have received international recognition and awards.

Additionally, Etim Akpan (1964-2018) was a prominent Nigerian engineer and academic who made significant contributions to the field of civil engineering and served as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Uyo.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Akpan

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

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

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

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