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

Awana, 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 Awana surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Awana in America

Awana is the 82317th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Awana surname appeared 229 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 Awana.

We can also compare 2010 data for Awana 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 Awana

The surname AWANA is believed to have its origins in West Africa, particularly in the region that is now modern-day Nigeria. The name is thought to have derived from the Igbo language, where "awana" translates to "child of grace" or "born under fortunate circumstances."

One of the earliest known records of the AWANA surname can be traced back to the 16th century, when it appeared in historical documents from the Kingdom of Nri, a powerful Igbo civilization in present-day Anambra State, Nigeria. During this period, the name was often spelled as "Awanah" or "Awanar."

In the 18th century, the AWANA surname gained prominence in the region, with several notable individuals bearing the name. One such person was Okoro Awana, a renowned warrior and leader who played a pivotal role in the defense of his community against invading forces.

As the 19th century dawned, the AWANA name spread beyond the borders of Nigeria, with some families migrating to other West African countries and eventually to Europe and the Americas. One notable figure from this era was Adaora Awana (1822-1890), a respected healer and herbalist who was widely recognized for her knowledge of traditional medicine.

In the early 20th century, the AWANA surname gained recognition in the academic and literary realms. Chukwuemeka Awana (1905-1982) was a prominent educator and scholar who made significant contributions to the study of Igbo language and culture.

Another notable figure from this period was Nnamdi Awana (1920-1998), a celebrated author and poet whose works explored themes of identity, tradition, and the complexities of post-colonial society.

Throughout its history, the AWANA surname has been associated with various place names and geographical locations within Nigeria. Some of these include the towns of Awana-Ngwa, Awana-Obi, and Awana-Ukwu, all of which are located in the southeastern region of the country.

While the AWANA surname has its roots in West Africa, it has since spread to other parts of the world, with individuals bearing this name making their mark in various fields and professions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Awana

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

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

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

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