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

Chege, 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 Chege surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Chege in America

Chege is the 47791st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Chege surname appeared 443 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 Chege.

We can also compare 2010 data for Chege 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 Chege

The surname "CHEGE" is of Kenyan origin, specifically from the Kikuyu tribe. The name is derived from the Kikuyu word "gichege," which means "to shout or call out." It is believed that the name was initially given to individuals who had loud or distinctive voices.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 16th century, during the reign of the Gikuyu Kingdom in present-day central Kenya. In ancient Kikuyu manuscripts and oral traditions, the name is mentioned in connection with various clan elders and leaders who played influential roles in their communities.

One notable figure in Kikuyu history was Chege wa Kibiru, a renowned warrior and strategist from the late 18th century. He was renowned for his bravery and tactical skills during conflicts between rival clans. Chege wa Kibiru's exploits were celebrated in songs and stories passed down through generations.

Another prominent individual with the surname was Jomo Chege, a respected elder and advisor to the Kikuyu chief Kigongo in the early 19th century. Jomo Chege was known for his wisdom and diplomatic abilities in resolving disputes and promoting peace among the various Kikuyu sub-clans.

In the late 19th century, Chege Njuguna was a renowned herbalist and healer who is credited with preserving traditional Kikuyu medicinal knowledge. His remedies and treatments were widely sought after, and his teachings were passed down to subsequent generations of Kikuyu healers.

A more recent figure was Jomo Chege Gathama, a Kenyan politician and freedom fighter who played a significant role in the country's struggle for independence from British colonial rule in the mid-20th century. Born in 1919 and died in 2003, Gathama was a prominent member of the Kenyan African Union and participated in various protests and civil disobedience movements against colonial policies.

The surname "CHEGE" is deeply rooted in Kikuyu culture and history, with its origins dating back several centuries. While the name has spread across Kenya and beyond, it remains closely associated with the Kikuyu people and their rich cultural heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Chege

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

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

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

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