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

Gitau, 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 Gitau surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gitau in America

Gitau is the 54055th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gitau surname appeared 382 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 Gitau.

The history of the last name Gitau

The surname GITAU has its origins in Kenya, specifically amongst the Kikuyu people, an ethnic group native to the central highlands of the country. The name can be traced back to the 18th century and is derived from the Kikuyu word "gĩtau," which translates to "fireside" or "hearth."

In the traditional Kikuyu culture, the fireside was a central gathering place for families and communities, where elders would impart wisdom and share stories. The name GITAU likely originated as a reference to an individual's connection to this important cultural tradition or as a descriptive name for someone who resided near a prominent fireside or hearth.

Historical records and oral traditions indicate that the name GITAU was particularly prevalent in the Murang'a and Kiambu regions of central Kenya, where the Kikuyu people have had a strong presence for centuries. The earliest documented instances of the name can be found in genealogical records and oral histories passed down through generations within the Kikuyu community.

One notable individual bearing the surname GITAU was Jomo Kenyatta, the first Prime Minister and President of independent Kenya. He was born Kamau wa Ngengi in 1891 but later adopted the name Jomo Kenyatta, which translates to "burning spear" in the Kikuyu language. Kenyatta was a prominent leader in the fight for Kenyan independence and served as the country's first head of state from 1964 until his death in 1978.

Another significant figure with the surname GITAU was Wangari Maathai, a renowned environmental activist and the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004. Born in 1940 in the Nyeri region of Kenya, Maathai was a staunch advocate for sustainable development and environmental conservation, founding the Green Belt Movement, which has planted millions of trees across Africa.

Other notable individuals bearing the GITAU surname include David Gitau, a Kenyan politician and member of the National Assembly, and Peter Gitau, a renowned Kenyan musician and composer known for his contributions to the popularization of Kikuyu gospel music.

Throughout history, the surname GITAU has been closely associated with the Kikuyu people and their rich cultural heritage, serving as a testament to the enduring traditions and values that have shaped the identity of this vibrant community in Kenya.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gitau

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

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

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

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