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

Egbe, 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 Egbe surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Egbe in America

Egbe is the 90495th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Egbe surname appeared 204 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 Egbe.

We can also compare 2010 data for Egbe 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 Egbe

The surname EGBE is of Nigerian origin, tracing its roots back to the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria. It first emerged during the 16th century in the region now known as Enugu State.

EGBE is derived from the Igbo word "ebe," meaning "place" or "location." It was likely originally used as a descriptive name to identify someone's place of residence or origin. The earliest known spelling variations include Egbee, Egbeh, and Egbay.

In the 17th century, the name EGBE appeared in various local records and documents, such as land deeds and village registries, indicating its widespread use among the Igbo communities of the time.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname EGBE was Nwankwo Egbe, a prominent leader and trader who lived in the late 16th century. He played a significant role in facilitating trade between the Igbo people and neighboring regions.

Another notable figure was Eze Egbe, a renowned healer and herbalist from the 18th century, whose knowledge of traditional Igbo medicine was widely sought after.

During the 19th century, the name EGBE gained recognition beyond the Igbo regions. Obi Egbe, born in 1832, was a respected diplomat and negotiator who helped establish peaceful relations between the Igbo kingdoms and the British colonial administration.

In the early 20th century, Nnamdi Egbe (1892-1975) was a prominent educator and advocate for Igbo language and culture. He founded several schools and contributed to the preservation of Igbo traditions.

Another influential figure was Akwaeke Egbe (1912-1988), a renowned writer and poet who celebrated Igbo folklore and oral traditions in his works, helping to preserve the rich cultural heritage of the Igbo people.

While the surname EGBE is primarily associated with the Igbo ethnic group, it has also been adopted by other Nigerian communities through intermarriage and cultural exchange, further enriching its historical significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Egbe

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

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

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

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