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

Anyanwu, 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 Anyanwu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Anyanwu in America

Anyanwu is the 23899th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Anyanwu surname appeared 1,056 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 Anyanwu.

We can also compare 2010 data for Anyanwu 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 Anyanwu

The surname Anyanwu is of Nigerian origin, specifically from the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria. The name is derived from the Igbo words "anya" meaning "eye" and "nwu" meaning "to live" or "to survive". Therefore, the name Anyanwu can be interpreted to mean "living eye" or "surviving eye".

The earliest recorded instances of the name Anyanwu date back to the 18th century, though it is likely that the name existed long before then. During this time, the Igbo people were primarily concentrated in the area now known as Anambra, Enugu, Imo, and Abia states of Nigeria.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Anyanwu was Nnamdi Anyanwu, a prominent trader and farmer who lived in the late 18th century in the village of Nri, near present-day Awka in Anambra State. He was known for his success in cultivating yams and his influential role in the local community.

In the 19th century, the name Anyanwu appeared in various historical records and documents related to the Igbo people and their interactions with European traders and missionaries. One notable figure was Okoro Anyanwu, a respected elder and chief in the town of Arochukwu, who negotiated trade agreements with British merchants in the 1850s.

Another individual of historical significance was Adaeze Anyanwu, a skilled potter and artist who lived in the late 19th century in the village of Mbaise, Imo State. Her intricate pottery designs and sculptures were highly regarded and sought after by collectors.

In the 20th century, several individuals with the surname Anyanwu made significant contributions in various fields. Chinua Anyanwu was a renowned writer and novelist, best known for his works exploring the themes of culture, identity, and the impact of colonialism on the Igbo people. He was born in 1922 and passed away in 1998.

Nneka Anyanwu was a pioneering Nigerian educator and women's rights activist, born in 1935. She founded several schools and advocated for increased educational opportunities for girls and women in Nigeria.

Chukwuma Anyanwu was a prominent Nigerian businessman and philanthropist, born in 1945. He founded a successful import-export company and was known for his generous contributions to various charitable causes, particularly in the areas of education and healthcare.

It is important to note that while these individuals are notable examples, the surname Anyanwu is widespread among the Igbo people and has been borne by many other individuals throughout history, though their stories may not have been as extensively documented.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Anyanwu

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

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

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Anyanwu, 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!