Bekoe last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Bekoe

A surname derived from the Akan word for "plaintain".

Bekoe, 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 Bekoe surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bekoe in America

Bekoe is the 123064th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bekoe surname appeared 140 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 Bekoe.

The history of the last name Bekoe

The surname Bekoe is believed to have originated in West Africa, specifically in the country of Ghana. It is derived from the Akan language, which is spoken by several ethnic groups in Ghana, including the Ashanti and Fante.

The name Bekoe is thought to be a combination of two Akan words, "beko" meaning "to wander" and "e" meaning "he/she/it." Thus, Bekoe could be interpreted as "the wanderer" or "one who wanders." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who traveled extensively or led a nomadic lifestyle.

Historical records indicate that the Bekoe surname was present in Ghana as early as the 16th century. During this period, the Ashanti Empire was one of the most powerful kingdoms in West Africa, and it is possible that the name originated within this empire.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Bekoe was Nana Bekoe I, a prominent chief of the Ashanti people who ruled in the late 17th century. He was known for his military prowess and played a significant role in expanding the Ashanti Empire's territory.

Another notable figure was Osei Bekoe, an Ashanti nobleman who lived in the 18th century. He served as a diplomat and was instrumental in negotiating treaties with European powers, such as the British and the Dutch, who had established trading posts along the Ghanaian coast.

In the 19th century, a man named Kwasi Bekoe gained recognition as a successful trader and entrepreneur. He established trade routes between Ghana and neighboring countries, facilitating the exchange of goods and contributing to the economic development of the region.

Moving into the 20th century, Kwame Bekoe was a respected journalist and political activist who advocated for Ghana's independence from British colonial rule. He founded several newspapers and used his platform to raise awareness about the struggle for self-governance.

In more recent times, Asamoah Bekoe made a name for himself as a professional soccer player. Born in 1987, he played for several clubs in Ghana and Europe, including the prestigious Spanish team Sevilla FC.

While the surname Bekoe has its roots in Ghana, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins can be traced back to the rich cultural heritage of the Akan people in West Africa.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bekoe

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

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 Bekoe was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Black Only 97.14% 136
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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

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

Reference this page

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Bekoe last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on July 27, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/bekoe-surname-popularity/.

"Bekoe last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/bekoe-surname-popularity/. Accessed 27 July, 2024

Bekoe last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/bekoe-surname-popularity/.

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