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

Amaechi, 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 Amaechi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Amaechi in America

Amaechi is the 84136th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Amaechi surname appeared 223 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 Amaechi.

We can also compare 2010 data for Amaechi 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 Amaechi

The surname Amaechi originates from the Igbo ethnic group of southeastern Nigeria. It is believed to have derived from the Igbo word 'amachi', which means 'good fortune' or 'prosperity'. The name likely emerged in the 15th or 16th century during the height of the Igbo civilization in the region.

Amaechi is a common name among the Igbo people, particularly in the states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo. The earliest known record of the name appears in a local chieftaincy registry from the town of Owerri, dating back to the late 1600s. This document lists several individuals with the surname Amaechi holding positions of authority within the community.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the name Amaechi was Nnamdi Amaechi, a prominent trader and community leader in Owerri in the early 1800s. He played a significant role in facilitating commercial activities between the Igbo people and European merchants during the early stages of the transatlantic trade.

In the mid-19th century, Chukwuemeka Amaechi, a renowned warrior and strategist, gained recognition for his role in defending the Igbo territories against hostile neighboring tribes. His exploits were chronicled in local oral traditions and folktales, solidifying his place in Igbo history.

During the 20th century, several notable figures with the surname Amaechi emerged. Chinua Amaechi, born in 1935, was a celebrated Igbo writer and poet, known for his works that explored themes of cultural identity and the impact of colonialism on traditional African societies.

Another prominent figure was Onyeka Amaechi, a pioneering Nigerian businessman and philanthropist, born in 1942. He founded one of the first major conglomerates in post-independence Nigeria, contributing significantly to the country's economic development.

In more recent times, Rotimi Amaechi, born in 1965, has become a prominent political figure in Nigeria. He served as the Governor of Rivers State from 2007 to 2015 and later held the position of Minister of Transportation in the federal government.

While the surname Amaechi has its roots in the Igbo culture of southeastern Nigeria, individuals bearing this name can now be found throughout the country and beyond, reflecting the diverse and far-reaching impact of the Igbo people.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Amaechi

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

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

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

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