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

Ashanti, 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 Ashanti surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ashanti in America

Ashanti is the 140157th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ashanti surname appeared 119 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 Ashanti.

The history of the last name Ashanti

The surname "Ashanti" is of African origin, specifically from the Ashanti people of Ghana. It can be traced back to the Ashanti Empire, a powerful kingdom that existed in what is now modern-day Ghana from around the late 17th century to the late 19th century.

The name "Ashanti" is derived from the Twi language spoken by the Ashanti people, and it is believed to be related to the word "asan," which means "because of war." This could be a reference to the military prowess and conquests of the Ashanti Empire during its height.

There are records of the Ashanti people and their empire in various historical documents and accounts from European explorers and traders who visited the region during that time period. One of the earliest known references to the Ashanti people appears in a 1693 document written by a Dutch trader, Willem Bosman.

The earliest recorded individuals with the surname "Ashanti" are likely from the late 18th or early 19th century, as the use of surnames became more common among the Ashanti people during that period. Some notable individuals with the surname include:

1. Nana Yaa Asantewaa (c. 1840-1921), a powerful queen and leader who led an uprising against the British in the Ashanti Empire.
2. Kofi Busia (1913-1978), a Ghanaian academic and politician who served as the Prime Minister of Ghana from 1969 to 1972.
3. Kwadwo Baah Ashanti (1917-2001), a Ghanaian diplomat and politician who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the 1960s.
4. Yaa Asantewaa Akuamoah (1918-2007), a Ghanaian educator and activist who played a significant role in the country's independence movement.
5. Akosua Asantewaa (born 1969), a Ghanaian journalist and writer known for her work on women's rights and social issues.

While the surname "Ashanti" is primarily associated with the Ashanti people of Ghana, it may also be found among individuals of Ghanaian descent in other parts of the world, particularly in countries with significant Ghanaian diaspora communities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ashanti

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

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

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

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