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

Ekpenyong, 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 Ekpenyong surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ekpenyong in America

Ekpenyong is the 141140th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ekpenyong surname appeared 118 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 Ekpenyong.

The history of the last name Ekpenyong

The surname EKPENYONG is of Nigerian origin, tracing its roots to the Efik people of the Cross River State in the southeastern region of the country. This name likely emerged during the late medieval period, around the 15th or 16th century.

The name EKPENYONG is derived from the Efik language, a member of the Benue-Congo branch of the Niger-Congo language family. It is believed to be a combination of the words "ekpe," meaning "leopard," and "nyong," which translates to "child" or "offspring." Therefore, the name EKPENYONG may have originally referred to someone with a connection to leopards or someone who was considered brave or fierce like a leopard.

While there are no known historical references to the name EKPENYONG in ancient manuscripts or records, it is well-documented in the oral traditions and genealogies of the Efik people. The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the colonial-era records of the British authorities who administered the region during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

One notable individual with the surname EKPENYONG was Eyo Edem Ekpenyong (1887-1958), a prominent Nigerian educator and community leader. He played a significant role in the establishment of educational institutions in the Calabar region and was a vocal advocate for the preservation of Efik culture and traditions.

Another noteworthy figure was Essien Udoye Ekpenyong (1913-1988), a respected politician and member of the Eastern House of Assembly during the pre-independence era. He was also a prominent member of the Efik community and worked tirelessly to promote the rights and interests of his people.

In the realm of literature, Bassey Ekpenyong (1929-1997) was a renowned Efik writer and poet. His works, which explored themes of identity, culture, and social issues, were widely acclaimed and contributed greatly to the development of Nigerian literature.

Ita Ekpenyong (1941-2018) was a distinguished Nigerian lawyer and human rights activist. She dedicated her career to fighting for the rights of women, children, and marginalized communities, and her efforts earned her numerous honors and awards.

Finally, Ntiedo Ekpenyong (born 1962) is a contemporary Nigerian artist and sculptor. Her works, which often explore traditional Efik themes and motifs, have been exhibited internationally and are held in numerous prestigious collections.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the surname EKPENYONG throughout history, highlighting the rich cultural heritage and significance of this name within the Efik community and Nigerian society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ekpenyong

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

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

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

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