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

Dinka, 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 Dinka surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dinka in America

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

The Dinka 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 Dinka.

The history of the last name Dinka

The surname DINKA is believed to have originated in South Sudan, where it is associated with the Dinka ethnic group, one of the largest ethnic groups in the country. The Dinka people have a long history dating back centuries, and their name is believed to be derived from the Nilotic word "Dinka," which means "people" or "wanderers."

The earliest known mention of the DINKA surname can be traced back to the 18th century, when European explorers and missionaries began documenting their encounters with the Dinka people in the region. Some of these early records include the writings of Swiss explorer John Lewis Burckhardt, who visited South Sudan in the early 19th century.

One notable individual with the DINKA surname was Arok Thon Arok Dinka, a renowned Dinka Chief and leader who lived in the late 19th century. He played a significant role in defending his people's land and culture during the turbulent period of European colonization in the region.

Another prominent figure was Cuol Dinka, a South Sudanese politician and diplomat who served as the country's Foreign Minister from 2011 to 2013. He played a crucial role in establishing South Sudan's diplomatic relations after the nation gained independence in 2011.

In the realm of literature, Francis Mading Dinka is a celebrated South Sudanese author and poet. His works, including the novel "Africanus, Son of a Spear," have garnered international acclaim and shed light on the experiences of the Dinka people.

Arop Madut Arop Dinka, born in the 1930s, was a respected South Sudanese politician and diplomat. He served as the country's Minister of Foreign Affairs and played a pivotal role in the peace negotiations that led to the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005, which ended decades of civil war in Sudan.

Lastly, Gai Tut Dinka, born in the late 19th century, was a revered Dinka chief and spiritual leader. He was known for his wisdom and his efforts to preserve the traditional Dinka culture and way of life during a period of significant change and upheaval in the region.

While the DINKA surname is primarily associated with the Dinka ethnic group in South Sudan, it has also been adopted by individuals from other parts of the world, reflecting the rich cultural diversity and migration patterns that have shaped contemporary societies.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dinka

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

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 Dinka 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.

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

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

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