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

Emeka, 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 Emeka surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Emeka in America

Emeka is the 158432nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Emeka surname appeared 102 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 Emeka.

The history of the last name Emeka

The surname Emeka originates from the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria. It is believed to have derived from the Igbo words "eme" meaning "good" and "ka" meaning "be greater than". Thus, the name Emeka can be interpreted as "be greater than good" or "let goodness prevail".

The earliest recorded use of the name Emeka dates back to the 16th century, during the reign of the Nri Kingdom, one of the oldest and most influential civilizations of the Igbo people. It is believed that the name was initially used by members of the royal family or influential families within the Nri Kingdom.

In the 18th century, the name Emeka gained wider popularity among the Igbo people, and it became a common surname in various Igbo communities. During this period, the name was often associated with individuals who were known for their leadership qualities, wisdom, and commitment to promoting the well-being of their communities.

One of the earliest known historical figures with the surname Emeka was Emeka Okonkwo, a renowned Igbo trader and diplomat who lived in the late 18th century. He played a crucial role in facilitating trade and diplomatic relations between the Igbo people and other West African kingdoms.

Another notable figure with the surname Emeka was Emeka Ibe, a prominent Igbo chief who lived in the mid-19th century. He was known for his efforts in preserving Igbo cultural traditions and promoting unity among the various Igbo communities.

In the 20th century, the surname Emeka gained wider recognition beyond the Igbo region. One of the most famous individuals with this surname was Emeka Anyoku, a Nigerian writer and academic who made significant contributions to the study of Igbo literature and culture. He was born in 1920 and passed away in 1987.

Another notable figure was Emeka Ojukwu, a Nigerian military officer and politician who served as the leader of the secessionist state of Biafra during the Nigerian Civil War. He was born in 1933 and passed away in 2011.

Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the son of Emeka Ojukwu, also gained prominence as a Nigerian politician and businessman. He served as the Governor of Anambra State from 2003 to 2006.

While the surname Emeka has its roots in the Igbo culture, it has now spread to various parts of Nigeria and beyond, as a result of migrations and cultural exchange. However, its historical significance and connection to the Igbo people remain a defining aspect of this surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Emeka

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!