Githinji
A surname originating from the Kikuyu people of Kenya, derived from "githiinjĩ" meaning a wealthy person.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 206 Americans carry the last name Githinji. That puts it at #108,734 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.06 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,663,856 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Githinji surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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.
Bearers in the US
206
1 in 1,663,856
Census rank
#108,734
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
163
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 163 bearers of the surname Githinji in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.06 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 108734th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Githinji, the largest self-reported group is Black at 95.1%. The next largest groups are White (3.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of 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.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Githinji
Among Census respondents with the surname Githinji, the largest self-reported group is Black at 95.1%. The next largest groups are White (3.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Githinji bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Githinji surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American95.1%
- White3.1%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Githinji surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #108,734 | #108,734 | 0.0% |
| Count | 163 | 163 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.06 | 0.06 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Githinji bearers went from 163 to 163 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #108,734 to #108,734.
FAQ
Githinji surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Githinji?
The surname Githinji holds position #108,734 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 206 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.06 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Githinji surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Githinji, the largest self-reported group is Black at 95.1%. The next largest groups are White (3.1%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.