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

Ayoola, 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 Ayoola surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ayoola in America

Ayoola is the 82044th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ayoola surname appeared 230 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 Ayoola.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ayoola 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 Ayoola

The surname Ayoola originates from the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. It dates back to the 15th century and is derived from the Yoruba words "ayo" meaning joy or happiness, and "ola" meaning wealth or affluence. Essentially, Ayoola means "rejoice in wealth or prosperity".

The earliest known mention of the Ayoola surname can be found in records from the ancient Oyo Empire, a prominent Yoruba kingdom that flourished between the 15th and 19th centuries. These records reference several Ayoola families who were prominent merchants and traders within the empire.

In the 17th century, an Ayoola family established a thriving trading post in the coastal town of Badagry, which served as a major hub for the transatlantic slave trade. While the involvement of the Ayoolas in this tragic chapter of history is regrettable, it highlights their influence and wealth during that era.

One of the earliest documented individuals bearing the Ayoola surname was Oluwatoyin Ayoola, a renowned warrior and military strategist who served under the Alafin (king) of Oyo in the late 16th century. He is credited with leading several successful campaigns that expanded the Oyo Empire's territory.

In the 19th century, Adeyemi Ayoola was a respected leader and diplomat from Ibadan, one of the prominent Yoruba city-states. He played a crucial role in negotiating peace treaties and fostering trade relations between Ibadan and neighboring kingdoms.

Another notable figure was Omotayo Ayoola, a renowned scholar and linguist from Iwo, who lived in the late 19th century. He made significant contributions to the preservation and documentation of the Yoruba language and culture.

During the 20th century, Olufunmilayo Ayoola was a pioneering educator and women's rights activist from Abeokuta. She fought tirelessly for equal educational opportunities for girls and played a pivotal role in establishing several schools in the region.

In more recent times, Adebayo Ayoola, a prominent Nigerian businessman and philanthropist, has made significant contributions to various charitable causes, particularly in the areas of education and healthcare.

While the Ayoola surname originated in southwestern Nigeria, it has since spread across the globe due to migration and the African diaspora. Today, individuals bearing this surname can be found in various parts of the world, carrying with them the rich cultural heritage and history of their Yoruba ancestry.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ayoola

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

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

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

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