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

Babalola, 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 Babalola surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Babalola in America

Babalola is the 39281st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Babalola surname appeared 560 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 Babalola.

We can also compare 2010 data for Babalola 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 Babalola

The surname Babalola originates from the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. It is a compound name derived from the Yoruba words "baba" meaning father, and "lola" meaning wealth or riches. Thus, the literal meaning of Babalola is "father of wealth" or "wealthy father".

The Yoruba people have a rich cultural heritage dating back several centuries, and their naming conventions often reflect important values, occupations, or events. The Babalola surname likely arose as a way to honor or identify a man who was prosperous or blessed with abundant material resources.

While the exact origins of the Babalola surname are difficult to trace, it is believed to have emerged in the 16th or 17th century, during the height of the Yoruba kingdoms in what is now present-day Nigeria. The name may have been initially given as a praise name or honorific to a respected elder or leader in a particular community.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Babalola surname can be found in the writings of Samuel Ajayi Crowther, a Yoruba linguist, and Anglican missionary who lived from 1809 to 1891. Crowther's works, which included translations of the Bible into the Yoruba language, mention several individuals with the Babalola surname.

Throughout history, there have been several notable figures who bore the Babalola surname. One such individual was Babalola Ogungbemi (1894-1966), a prominent Yoruba educationist and founder of the Ogbomoso Grammar School in Oyo State, Nigeria.

Another notable Babalola was Babalola Adelakun (1915-1995), a renowned Yoruba musician and composer who helped to popularize traditional Yoruba music throughout Nigeria and beyond.

In the realm of literature, Babalola Ojo (1938-2010) was a celebrated Yoruba novelist and playwright, known for his works that explored Yoruba culture and traditions.

The Babalola surname has also been carried by influential religious leaders, such as Babalola Adetunji (1906-1980), a prominent Nigerian Baptist minister and evangelist who played a significant role in the growth of Christianity in the country.

Finally, Babalola Adeboye (1942-2008) was a respected Nigerian lawyer and jurist who served as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria from 1995 until his retirement in 2007.

While these are just a few examples, the Babalola surname has a rich history and has been borne by many accomplished individuals throughout the centuries, reflecting the cultural and historical significance of this Yoruba name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Babalola

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

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

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

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