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

Asante, 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 Asante surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Asante in America

Asante is the 17605th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Asante surname appeared 1,596 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 Asante.

We can also compare 2010 data for Asante 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 Asante

The surname "ASANTE" originates from the Akan people of Ghana, West Africa. It is derived from the Akan word "asante," which means "because of war" or "due to war." The name likely originated during the 17th or 18th century, when the Asante Empire, a powerful kingdom in present-day Ghana, was at its peak.

The Asante Empire was founded in the late 17th century by Osei Tutu, who united several Akan states and established the capital at Kumasi. The empire became known for its military prowess, with the Asante warriors renowned for their skill and bravery in battle. It is possible that the name "ASANTE" was given to individuals or families who distinguished themselves in the wars or conflicts of the Asante Empire.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name "ASANTE" can be found in the writings of European travelers and traders who visited the region during the 18th and 19th centuries. These accounts often described the Asante people and their customs, sometimes referring to individual Asante leaders or warriors by name.

One notable bearer of the name "ASANTE" was Nana Yaa Asantewaa, a influential queen mother who led the Asante rebellion against British colonial rule in 1900. She was born around 1840 and played a crucial role in rallying the Asante forces against the British, earning her a place in Ghanaian history as a symbol of resistance and courage.

Another famous person with the surname "ASANTE" was Kwame Asante, a Ghanaian writer and academic who was born in 1933. He was a professor of African American Studies at Temple University and wrote extensively on African and African American culture, including the influential book "Afrocentricity."

In more recent times, Kofi Annan, the former Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1997 to 2006, had the surname "Annan," which is a variant spelling of "ASANTE." Annan was born in 1938 in Kumasi, the former capital of the Asante Empire, and played a pivotal role in international diplomacy and conflict resolution.

Additionally, Kwadwo Asante Atwere, a Ghanaian politician and diplomat, served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ghana from 1997 to 2001. He was born in 1936 and had a long career in public service, representing Ghana on the international stage.

Overall, the surname "ASANTE" has a rich history rooted in the Akan culture of Ghana and the legacy of the Asante Empire. It has been borne by individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields, from politics and diplomacy to literature and academia.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Asante

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

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

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

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