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

Appiah, 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 Appiah surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Appiah in America

Appiah is the 17239th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Appiah surname appeared 1,643 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Appiah.

We can also compare 2010 data for Appiah 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 Appiah

The surname Appiah is of Akan origin, specifically from the Ashanti people of Ghana, West Africa. Its earliest roots can be traced back to the 17th century when the Ashanti Kingdom was established. The name is derived from the Akan word "appa," meaning "venerable" or "elder," signifying respect and reverence.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Appiah surname dates back to the late 17th century, where it appears in historical records from the Ashanti Kingdom. The name is closely associated with the Ashanti people's cultural traditions and their rich oral history.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Appiah name gained prominence among the Ashanti nobility and influential families. Notable figures with this surname include Nana Akua Appiah, a renowned queen mother and advisor to the Ashanti king in the early 19th century, known for her wisdom and diplomacy.

In the 20th century, Appiah became a widely recognized surname beyond the borders of Ghana. Kwame Anthony Appiah (born 1954), a British-Ghanaian philosopher and cultural theorist, is one of the most prominent individuals with this surname. His works have significantly influenced modern discussions on race, identity, and cosmopolitanism.

Another noteworthy individual is Joseph Ephraim Casely-Hayford (1866-1930), a writer, educator, and political activist from Ghana, who played a pivotal role in advocating for African self-governance and education. His mother's maiden name was Appiah.

In contemporary times, the Appiah surname has maintained its significance within the Akan community and has spread across various regions due to migration and diaspora. It continues to be associated with the rich cultural heritage and traditions of the Ashanti people.

Throughout its history, the Appiah surname has been closely linked to the Ashanti Kingdom's cultural and political landscape, serving as a testament to the enduring legacy of the Akan people and their contributions to West African history and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Appiah

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

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

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

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