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

Ayodele, 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 Ayodele surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ayodele in America

Ayodele is the 54178th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ayodele surname appeared 381 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 Ayodele.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ayodele 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 Ayodele

The surname Ayodele originates from the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. It is a combination of two Yoruba words: "ayo," meaning joy or happiness, and "dele," meaning to arrive or come from. The name dates back several centuries and can be roughly translated to mean "joy has arrived" or "happiness has come."

The Yoruba people have a rich cultural heritage, and their naming traditions often reflect their values and beliefs. The name Ayodele was likely given to children born during times of celebration or after a period of hardship, signifying the joy and happiness brought by their arrival.

While there are no definitive historical records indicating the exact origin of the name Ayodele, it is believed to have been in use among the Yoruba people for several centuries. Some of the earliest documented references to the name can be found in certain Yoruba oral traditions and folktales passed down through generations.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Ayodele was Ayodele Ogunlesi, a prominent Nigerian educator and civil servant who lived from 1897 to 1983. He played a pivotal role in establishing several educational institutions in Nigeria and was a strong advocate for the promotion of Yoruba language and culture.

Another notable figure was Ayodele Awojobi (1936-2020), a renowned Nigerian artist and sculptor whose works were heavily influenced by Yoruba cultural themes and motifs. His sculptures and installations can be found in various museums and galleries around the world, celebrating the rich artistic heritage of the Yoruba people.

In the realm of sports, Ayodele Adeleye (born 1976) is a former Nigerian footballer who played professionally in several countries, including Nigeria, Denmark, and Sweden. He was a key member of the Nigerian national team and participated in the 2000 and 2004 African Cup of Nations tournaments.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Ayodele is Ayodele Olukoju (born 1958), a Nigerian academic and historian who has made significant contributions to the study of maritime history and African diaspora studies. He has authored numerous books and scholarly articles and has held prestigious positions at various universities around the world.

Another individual worth mentioning is Ayodele Akinrinade (born 1954), a Nigerian politician and former military officer who served as the Chief of Army Staff for the Nigerian Armed Forces from 1996 to 1999. He played a crucial role in the transition to democratic rule in Nigeria and has been actively involved in various political and civic organizations.

These are just a few examples of individuals with the surname Ayodele who have made significant contributions in their respective fields and have helped to preserve and promote the rich cultural heritage of the Yoruba people.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ayodele

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

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

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