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

Anekwe, 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 Anekwe surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Anekwe in America

Anekwe is the 134712th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Anekwe surname appeared 125 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 Anekwe.

The history of the last name Anekwe

The surname Anekwe originates from Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria, particularly in the Awka area of Anambra state. It emerged in the late 15th or early 16th century, derived from the Igbo phrase "anekwe nri" which translates to "generous person" or "one who shares food".

Anekwe was likely initially used as a descriptive surname or nickname for individuals known for their generosity and willingness to share resources, especially food, within their communities. As Igbo society was traditionally organized around extended family units and villages, such qualities were highly valued.

One of the earliest known recordings of the Anekwe surname appears in oral histories and folktales from the Awka region, dating back to the late 16th century. These stories often featured characters with the name, highlighting the importance placed on generosity in Igbo culture.

In the 18th century, written records from European missionaries and traders operating in the region begin to reference individuals with the Anekwe surname. Some notable examples include Nwakamma Anekwe, a respected elder and negotiator in the town of Awka-Etiti in the 1760s, and Nwanneka Anekwe, a successful trader and entrepreneur in the coastal town of Calabar in the 1780s.

During the 19th century, as colonial rule and Christianity spread across Nigeria, the Anekwe surname began appearing in church records and colonial administrative documents. One prominent figure was Obinna Anekwe, a local chief and intermediary between the British colonial government and the people of Awka in the 1850s.

Other notable individuals with the Anekwe surname include Nnenna Anekwe, a renowned artist and sculptor from Onitsha, active in the early 20th century, and Chukwuemeka Anekwe, a respected educator and co-founder of the Awka Grammar School in the 1930s.

While the Anekwe surname is primarily associated with the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria, it has spread to other parts of the country and beyond due to migration and intermarriage over the centuries. However, its roots and historical significance remain firmly tied to the Awka region and the cultural values of generosity and communal sharing.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Anekwe

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

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

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

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