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

Githinji, 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 Githinji surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Githinji in America

Githinji is the 108734th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Githinji surname appeared 163 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 Githinji.

The history of the last name Githinji

The surname GITHINJI originated in Kenya and has its roots in the Kikuyu language, spoken by the Kikuyu people. The name is believed to have emerged in the late 18th or early 19th century, as the Kikuyu society became more structured and organized into clans and sub-clans.

GITHINJI is derived from the Kikuyu word "githinja," which means "a place of rest" or "a stopping point." This suggests that the name may have been given to individuals or families who settled in a particular area or established a homestead.

Historical records from the British colonial period in Kenya, such as land registers and census data, have preserved some of the earliest documented instances of the GITHINJI surname. One notable mention is found in the 1904 Kikuyu District Book, which lists a village elder named Githinji wa Kihara.

In the early 20th century, as the Kikuyu people became more involved in the political and social movements against colonial rule, the GITHINJI name gained prominence. Jomo Kenyatta, the first Prime Minister and President of independent Kenya, had a close associate and advisor named Gikonyo Githinji, who played a significant role in the Mau Mau uprising.

Another notable figure with the GITHINJI surname was Wangari Maathai, the renowned Kenyan environmental activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate (1940-2011). Her full name was Wangari Muta Maathai Githinji, and she was a member of the Githinji clan.

In the realm of literature, the Kenyan writer Ngugi wa Thiong'o, whose birth name was James Ngugi Githinji, has made significant contributions to African literature and has been a prominent voice for decolonization and cultural preservation.

Other historical figures with the GITHINJI surname include Joseph Githinji Kamau, a prominent Kenyan politician and member of the Legislative Council in the 1950s, and Loise Githinji, a pioneering Kenyan journalist and women's rights activist in the early 20th century.

While the GITHINJI surname is primarily associated with the Kikuyu people of Kenya, it has also been adopted by individuals from other ethnic groups within the country, reflecting the cultural diversity and interconnectedness of Kenyan society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Githinji

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

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

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

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