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

Bolorin, 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 Bolorin surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bolorin in America

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

The Bolorin 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 Bolorin.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bolorin 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 Bolorin

The surname Bolorin has its origins in the Yoruba ethnic group of southwestern Nigeria. It is believed to have emerged during the 16th century when the use of surnames became more widespread in the region. The name is derived from the Yoruba words "bolo" meaning "to wake up" and "rin" meaning "to walk," suggesting a connection to early risers or those who embarked on journeys at dawn.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bolorin can be found in the oral histories of the Oyo Empire, a prominent Yoruba kingdom that flourished between the 16th and 19th centuries. These accounts mention a respected warrior and advisor to the Alafin (king) named Akinbolorin, who played a significant role in the expansion of the empire during the 17th century.

In the late 18th century, a document known as the "Iwe Itan Yoruba" (Yoruba Historical Records) mentions a renowned herbalist and traditional healer named Babalorin, whose knowledge of medicinal plants was widely sought after throughout the region. This name is believed to be a variant spelling or a precursor to the modern Bolorin surname.

During the 19th century, the name Bolorin appeared in various written records and manuscripts of the Yoruba people, including the works of renowned scholars and writers such as Samuel Ajayi Crowther (1809-1891), who was one of the first Yoruba people to publish extensively in the English language.

Notable individuals with the surname Bolorin include:

1. Adeola Bolorin (1924-2002), a Nigerian politician and diplomat who served as the country's Minister of External Affairs from 1975 to 1979.

2. Adebayo Bolorin (1935-2018), a renowned Nigerian artist and sculptor known for his intricate wood carvings and mastery of traditional Yoruba art forms.

3. Kehinde Bolorin (born 1972), a Nigerian-American fashion designer and entrepreneur based in New York City, known for her bold and vibrant designs inspired by her Yoruba heritage.

4. Funmilayo Bolorin (1900-1978), a prominent Nigerian educator and women's rights activist who played a pivotal role in the fight for women's suffrage and social reforms in the country.

5. Babatunde Bolorin (born 1958), a Nigerian-British academic and author who has written extensively on African literature and cultural studies, currently serving as a professor at the University of Cambridge.

While the surname Bolorin is primarily associated with the Yoruba people of Nigeria, it has also been adopted by individuals of other ethnic groups within the country, reflecting the rich cultural diversity of the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bolorin

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

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

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

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