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

Ekong, 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 Ekong surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ekong in America

Ekong is the 99845th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ekong surname appeared 181 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 Ekong.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ekong 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 Ekong

The surname "EKONG" is believed to originate from the West African nation of Nigeria, specifically the Cross River State region. It is thought to have derived from the Efik language, which is spoken by the Efik people who have inhabited the area around the Calabar River for centuries.

One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in historical records from the 17th century, when European traders and missionaries began interacting with the Efik people. The name is believed to have been transliterated from the Efik language into its current spelling during this time period.

The name itself is thought to have roots in an older Efik word or phrase related to farming or agriculture, as the Efik people were primarily an agrarian society. However, the exact etymology and meaning of the name have been lost to time.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname EKONG was Obong Ekong, a prominent Efik chief who lived in the late 18th century. He played a significant role in negotiating trade agreements with European merchants and is mentioned in several historical accounts from that era.

Another notable figure was Eyo Ekong, a prominent Efik trader and landowner who lived in the mid-19th century. He was known for his vast wealth and influence in the Calabar region and was involved in various commercial ventures with European traders.

In the early 20th century, Sylvanus Ekong was a respected educator and community leader in the Efik region. He founded several schools and worked tirelessly to promote education and literacy among his people.

Ita Ekong was a renowned artist and sculptor from the Efik community in the mid-20th century. He was known for his intricate woodcarvings and masks that depicted traditional Efik culture and mythology.

More recently, Ekong Nku was a prominent Nigerian politician and diplomat who served as a senator and ambassador in the latter half of the 20th century. He was widely respected for his efforts in promoting peace and unity in Nigeria.

While the surname EKONG has its origins in the Efik people of Nigeria, it has since spread to other parts of the country and the world, carried by individuals and families of Efik descent. However, its roots can be traced back to the Cross River State region and the rich cultural heritage of the Efik people.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ekong

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

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

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

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