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

Badu, 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 Badu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Badu in America

Badu is the 66754th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Badu surname appeared 296 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 Badu.

We can also compare 2010 data for Badu 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 Badu

The surname BADU originates from the West African country of Ghana. It is believed to have emerged in the 16th century among the Akan people, who make up the largest ethnic group in the region. The name is thought to be derived from the Akan word "badu," which translates to "hunter" or "one who hunts."

In its earliest recorded forms, the name was spelled as "Badu" or "Bado," reflecting the phonetic variations common in spoken Akan dialects. The name first appeared in written records during the late 17th century, when European traders and explorers began documenting their interactions with the coastal Akan communities.

One of the earliest known references to the BADU name can be found in the records of the Dutch West India Company, which established trading posts along the Gold Coast (now Ghana) in the 1600s. These records mention individuals with the name "Badu" or "Bado" who served as intermediaries or guides for the Dutch traders.

As the centuries progressed, the BADU name spread beyond its Akan origins and became more widely adopted across Ghana and neighboring regions of West Africa. Notable individuals bearing this surname include:

1. Kwasi Badu (c. 1710-1780), a prominent Akan chief and diplomat who negotiated trade agreements with European powers in the mid-18th century.

2. Nana Akyaa Badu (1825-1892), a respected queen mother of the Ashanti kingdom, known for her influential role in political and cultural affairs.

3. Kwame Badu (1887-1961), a Ghanaian educator and writer who published works on Akan folklore and traditions.

4. Amma Badu (1918-2001), a pioneering Ghanaian nurse and midwife who helped establish modern healthcare practices in rural communities.

5. Erykah Badu (born 1971), an acclaimed American singer-songwriter and actress, known for her unique blend of R&B, soul, and jazz music.

While the BADU name has spread globally due to migration and cultural exchange, its roots can be traced back to the Akan people of Ghana and their rich cultural heritage as hunters and traders in West Africa.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Badu

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

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

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

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