2000
#33,292
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 647
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.24
Rare Last name
Balogun
A Yoruba surname meaning "commander of war" or "commander of soldiers".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,538 Americans carry the last name Balogun. That puts it at #13,221 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.74 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 135,049 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Balogun surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Balogun with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
2.5K
1 in 135,049
Census rank
#13,221
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.7
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.2K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,213 bearers of the surname Balogun in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.74 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 13221st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Balogun, the largest self-reported group is Black at 94.3%. The next largest groups are White (2.2%) and Two or More Races (2.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Balogun
The surname Balogun originated from the Yoruba people of Nigeria. It is a title that means "Keeper of the Armory" or "Commander of the Army" in the Yoruba language. The name can be traced back to the 16th century when it was given to military leaders and warriors who were responsible for organizing and leading the army during times of war.
The earliest recorded examples of the name Balogun can be found in the oral histories and traditional songs of the Yoruba people. These oral traditions often celebrated the bravery and tactical skills of prominent Balogun warriors who played pivotal roles in important battles and conflicts.
One of the most famous Balogun in history was Ologun Kutere, a military commander who lived in the late 17th century. He was renowned for his victories against the neighboring Nupe Kingdom and his successful defense of the Oyo Empire during a period of territorial expansion and conflict.
In the 19th century, Balogun Ibikunle was a prominent Yoruba military leader who fought against the Fulani Caliphate in the Yorubaland wars. He played a significant role in the defense of Ibadan, one of the largest and most influential Yoruba cities during that time.
Another notable figure with the surname Balogun was Balogun Toki, a skilled warrior and military strategist who lived in the early 19th century. He was known for his innovative tactics and his ability to inspire and lead his troops to victory in several battles against rival kingdoms.
During the colonial era, the Balogun title and name became more widely known outside of Nigeria. In the late 19th century, Balogun Akingbade was a prominent Yoruba leader who played a crucial role in negotiating treaties and agreements with the British colonial authorities.
Throughout history, the surname Balogun has been associated with military prowess, leadership, and bravery among the Yoruba people. It has been borne by many influential warriors, commanders, and leaders who played significant roles in shaping the history and cultural traditions of the Yoruba people.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Balogun
Among Census respondents with the surname Balogun, the largest self-reported group is Black at 94.3%. The next largest groups are White (2.2%) and Two or More Races (2.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Balogun bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Balogun surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American94.3% · 2,087
- White2.2% · 49
- Two or more races2.0% · 44
- Hispanic or Latino0.9% · 19
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6% · 14
Timeline
Historical Census data for Balogun
Balogun appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#21,157
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,241
+594 bearers (+91.8%)
Per 100,000 0.42
Rank movement Up 12,135 places
2020
#13,221
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,213
+972 bearers (+78.3%)
Per 100,000 0.74
Rank movement Up 7,936 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #33,292 | 647 | 0.24 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #21,157 | 1,241 | 0.42 | +594 bearers (+91.8%) | Up 12,135 places |
| 2020 | #13,221 | 2,213 | 0.74 | +972 bearers (+78.3%) | Up 7,936 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Balogun surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #21,157 | #13,221 | 37.5% |
| Count | 1,241 | 2,213 | 78.3% |
| Per 100K | 0.42 | 0.74 | 76.3% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Balogun bearers went from 1,241 to 2,213 (+78.3% change). The surname moved up 7,936 positions in the national ranking, going from #21,157 to #13,221.
FAQ
Balogun surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Balogun?
Name Census estimates that about 2,538 living Americans carry the surname Balogun. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 135,049 residents.
How common is Balogun?
Balogun ranks #13,221 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.74 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 2,213 people with the surname Balogun. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (2,538), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.74 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.74 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Balogun.
Has Balogun become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Balogun went from 1,241 recorded bearers to 2,213. That is an increase of 972 (+78.3%). In the national ranking it rose from #21,157 to #13,221.
What does the Census say about the background of Balogun?
Among Census respondents with the surname Balogun, the largest self-reported group is Black at 94.3%. The next largest groups are White (2.2%) and Two or More Races (2.0%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Black is the largest self-reported group for the surname Balogun in the 2020 Census, accounting for 94.3% (2,087 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Balogun appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Black (94.3%), White (2.2%), Two or More Races (2.0%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Balogun (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Balogun mean?
A Yoruba surname meaning "commander of war" or "commander of soldiers". The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Balogun (0.74 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Balogun?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.