2000
#44,895
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 450
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.17
Rare Last name
Frimpong
A traditionally Ghanaian surname meaning "wanderer" or "traveler".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,162 Americans carry the last name Frimpong. That puts it at #15,044 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.63 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 158,536 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Frimpong surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Frimpong with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
2.2K
1 in 158,536
Census rank
#15,044
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.9K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,885 bearers of the surname Frimpong in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.63 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 15044th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Frimpong, the largest self-reported group is Black at 95.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.4%) and Two or More Races (1.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Frimpong
The surname Frimpong has its origins in Ghana, a country located in West Africa. It is derived from the Akan language spoken by the Ashanti people, one of the largest ethnic groups in Ghana. The name 'Frimpong' is believed to have its roots in the words 'Fri' meaning 'town' or 'village' and 'Pong' meaning 'message' or 'news'. Thus, the name Frimpong could be interpreted as 'town messenger' or 'bearer of news'.
The earliest recorded instances of the Frimpong surname can be traced back to the 17th century, when the Ashanti Kingdom was at its peak. During this time, the Ashanti Empire was known for its skilled messengers and envoys who carried important news and messages between the various towns and villages within the kingdom. It is likely that the name Frimpong originated as a title or occupation for these messengers.
One of the earliest known historical figures with the Frimpong surname was Nana Frimpong Manso, a prominent chief and warrior who lived in the late 17th century. He played a significant role in the expansion of the Ashanti Empire and was renowned for his bravery and leadership skills on the battlefield.
Another notable individual was Kofi Frimpong, a skilled diplomat and negotiator who lived in the 18th century. He was instrumental in brokering peace treaties and resolving conflicts between the Ashanti and neighboring kingdoms, earning him a reputation as a skilled messenger and ambassador.
In the 19th century, Kwadwo Frimpong was a respected elder and advisor to the Ashanti King. He was known for his wisdom and his ability to convey important messages and counsel to the royal court.
Moving into the 20th century, Akosua Frimpong was a pioneering educator who established several schools in Ghana. She dedicated her life to promoting education and empowering young people, particularly girls, through her work as a teacher and school administrator.
Over time, the Frimpong surname has spread beyond Ghana and can now be found in various parts of the world, particularly among the Ghanaian diaspora communities. While its origins can be traced back to the Ashanti people and their historical role as messengers, the name Frimpong has become a symbol of pride and cultural identity for many individuals of Ghanaian descent.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Frimpong
Among Census respondents with the surname Frimpong, the largest self-reported group is Black at 95.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.4%) and Two or More Races (1.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Frimpong bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Frimpong surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American95.9% · 1,808
- Hispanic or Latino1.4% · 26
- Two or more races1.2% · 23
- White1.1% · 21
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.4% · 7
Timeline
Historical Census data for Frimpong
Frimpong appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#22,436
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,147
+697 bearers (+154.9%)
Per 100,000 0.39
Rank movement Up 22,459 places
2020
#15,044
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,885
+738 bearers (+64.3%)
Per 100,000 0.63
Rank movement Up 7,392 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #44,895 | 450 | 0.17 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #22,436 | 1,147 | 0.39 | +697 bearers (+154.9%) | Up 22,459 places |
| 2020 | #15,044 | 1,885 | 0.63 | +738 bearers (+64.3%) | Up 7,392 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Frimpong surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #22,436 | #15,044 | 32.9% |
| Count | 1,147 | 1,885 | 64.3% |
| Per 100K | 0.39 | 0.63 | 61.7% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Frimpong bearers went from 1,147 to 1,885 (+64.3% change). The surname moved up 7,392 positions in the national ranking, going from #22,436 to #15,044.
FAQ
Frimpong surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Frimpong?
Name Census estimates that about 2,162 living Americans carry the surname Frimpong. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 158,536 residents.
How common is Frimpong?
Frimpong ranks #15,044 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.63 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 1,885 people with the surname Frimpong. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (2,162), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.63 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.63 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Frimpong.
Has Frimpong become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Frimpong went from 1,147 recorded bearers to 1,885. That is an increase of 738 (+64.3%). In the national ranking it rose from #22,436 to #15,044.
What does the Census say about the background of Frimpong?
Among Census respondents with the surname Frimpong, the largest self-reported group is Black at 95.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.4%) and Two or More Races (1.2%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Black is the largest self-reported group for the surname Frimpong in the 2020 Census, accounting for 95.9% (1,808 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Frimpong appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Black (95.9%), Hispanic (1.4%), Two or More Races (1.2%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Frimpong (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Frimpong mean?
A traditionally Ghanaian surname meaning "wanderer" or "traveler". The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Frimpong (0.63 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Frimpong?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.