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

Ekeh, 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 Ekeh surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ekeh in America

Ekeh is the 88020th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ekeh surname appeared 211 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 Ekeh.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ekeh 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 Ekeh

The surname EKEH has its origins in the West African country of Nigeria. It is a name that can be traced back to the late 15th century in the region now known as Edo State. The name is derived from the Edo word "eke", which means "truth" or "honesty".

EKEH is believed to have been a title or descriptor given to individuals who were known for their truthfulness and integrity. Over time, this title became associated with certain families and eventually evolved into a surname. The earliest recorded instances of the name EKEH can be found in historical documents from the Benin Kingdom, which ruled over parts of present-day Nigeria from the 13th to the 19th century.

One notable figure bearing the surname EKEH was Oba Esigie, who ruled the Benin Kingdom from 1516 to 1550. He was known for his military conquests and for strengthening the kingdom's political and economic power. Another significant individual with this surname was Ofovwe EKEH, a prominent chief and advisor to the Oba (king) in the late 17th century.

As the Edo people migrated and settled in different parts of Nigeria, the surname EKEH spread to other regions, such as the present-day states of Delta, Ondo, and Lagos. In the 18th century, there are records of an EKEH family residing in the town of Badagry, which was an important trading port during that time.

One famous bearer of the EKEH surname was Oloye Oluwole EKEH, a successful merchant and philanthropist who lived in Lagos in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was known for his contributions to education and community development.

Another notable figure was Chief Samuel Oluyemi EKEH, a prominent politician and businessman from Edo State who served as a member of the Nigerian House of Representatives in the mid-20th century.

While the surname EKEH has its roots in Nigeria, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, the name remains most prevalent in its region of origin, particularly in the Edo-speaking areas of Nigeria.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ekeh

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

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

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

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