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

Diaw, 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 Diaw surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Diaw in America

Diaw is the 73666th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Diaw surname appeared 263 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 Diaw.

We can also compare 2010 data for Diaw 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 Diaw

The surname DIAW originated in the Middle Ages in the area that is now known as Senegal, West Africa. It is derived from the Wolof word "diaw," meaning "wealth" or "prosperity." This connection suggests that the name may have been given to someone who was particularly prosperous or wealthy in their community.

In the 14th century, the DIAW name first appeared in records kept by the ancient Kingdom of Jolof, which ruled over parts of present-day Senegal and Gambia. These records document a prominent family with the DIAW surname who held significant land and influence in the region.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the DIAW name was Boubacar DIAW, born in 1412, who served as a trusted advisor to the King of Jolof. His son, Mamadou DIAW (1438-1502), was a renowned scholar and poet who wrote extensively about the history and culture of the Wolof people.

As the centuries passed, the DIAW name spread beyond Senegal, carried by merchants and travelers throughout West Africa. In the 18th century, a notable DIAW was Fatima DIAW (1725-1798), a successful businesswoman and philanthropist from present-day Mali, who funded the construction of several mosques and schools in her community.

During the colonial era, the DIAW name also appeared in records kept by European powers in West Africa. One notable figure was Amadou DIAW (1842-1912), a prominent leader in the resistance against French colonial rule in Senegal.

In more recent times, the DIAW name has gained international recognition through individuals such as Gorgui DIAW (born 1990), a professional basketball player from Senegal who has played in the NBA for teams like the San Antonio Spurs and the Houston Rockets.

Other notable individuals with the DIAW surname include Aminata DIAW (born 1959), a Senegalese author and activist known for her work promoting women's rights and education, and Abdoulaye DIAW (1920-1985), a renowned Senegalese artist and sculptor whose works are displayed in museums around the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Diaw

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

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

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

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