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

Ayuk, 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 Ayuk surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ayuk in America

Ayuk is the 126765th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ayuk surname appeared 135 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 Ayuk.

The history of the last name Ayuk

The surname Ayuk has its origins in the Efik/Ibibio people of present-day Akwa Ibom and Cross River States in southern Nigeria. The name is believed to have emerged around the 15th or 16th century, during the height of the region's trade with European merchants.

The name Ayuk is derived from the Efik/Ibibio word "ayuk," which means "wealth" or "prosperity." This suggests that the surname may have been bestowed upon individuals or families who were successful in trade or enjoyed economic prosperity.

One of the earliest known references to the name Ayuk can be found in the records of the Royal Niger Company, a British mercantile company that operated in the Niger Delta region in the late 19th century. These records mention several Efik/Ibibio traders and middlemen with the surname Ayuk who facilitated trade between the company and local communities.

One notable individual with the surname Ayuk was Chief Obong Ayuk Okon, an influential Efik chief who lived in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He was known for his role in negotiating trade agreements with British merchants and his efforts to maintain peace and stability in the region.

Another historical figure was Adiaha Ayuk, a renowned Efik trader and entrepreneur who lived in the mid-19th century. She was known for her successful trading ventures and her involvement in the palm oil trade, which was a significant economic activity in the region at the time.

In the early 20th century, Okon Ayuk was a prominent Efik leader and politician who played a key role in the struggle for independence from British colonial rule. He served as a member of the Eastern House of Assembly and advocated for the rights of the Efik/Ibibio people.

More recently, Tijan Ayuk, born in 1976, is a prominent Cameroonian lawyer and energy entrepreneur. He has been recognized for his contributions to the development of the energy sector in Africa and his advocacy for sustainable energy policies.

While the surname Ayuk has its roots in the Efik/Ibibio people of southern Nigeria, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, its historical origins and connection to the region's rich cultural heritage and economic activities remain an integral part of its significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ayuk

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

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

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

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