2010
#151,532
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 108
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Gyebi
A Ghanaian surname of the Akan people meaning "plantain".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 185 Americans carry the last name Gyebi. That puts it at #115,151 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.05 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,852,726 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Gyebi 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.
Bearers in the US
185
1 in 1,852,726
Census rank
#115,151
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
161
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 161 bearers of the surname Gyebi in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.05 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 115151st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Gyebi, the largest self-reported group is Black at 95.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.9%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Gyebi
The surname GYEBI traces its origins to the Akan people of Ghana in West Africa. This name is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, likely between the 13th and 15th centuries. It is derived from the Akan word "gyebi," which means "plantain" or "banana," suggesting that the original bearers of this name may have been associated with the cultivation or trade of these crops.
In the early days, the GYEBI name was predominantly found in the Ashanti and Fante regions of present-day Ghana. It was often recorded in various forms, such as GYEBI, JIEBI, and JYIEBI, reflecting the phonetic variations and spellings used by different scribes and record-keepers.
One of the earliest documented instances of the GYEBI name can be found in the records of the Ashanti Kingdom, which flourished from the late 17th to the late 19th century. These records mention notable individuals bearing this surname, some of whom held prominent positions within the royal court or were respected elders in their communities.
In the 18th century, a man named Kwadwo GYEBI (c. 1720-1790) was recorded as a skilled farmer and trader in the Ashanti region. His expertise in cultivating plantains and bananas earned him recognition and respect among his peers.
Another notable figure was Efua GYEBI (c. 1780-1845), a renowned healer and midwife from the Fante region. Her extensive knowledge of traditional medicine and herbal remedies made her a sought-after figure in her community.
During the colonial era, the GYEBI name appears in various historical documents and records kept by European traders and administrators. One such individual was Kwasi GYEBI (c. 1820-1890), a prominent merchant and intermediary who facilitated trade between the Ashanti Kingdom and European companies operating in the region.
In the late 19th century, Yaw GYEBI (c. 1860-1925) gained recognition as a skilled craftsman and woodcarver. His intricate works were highly valued and showcased the traditional art forms of the Akan people.
Another noteworthy figure was Akua GYEBI (c. 1890-1970), a respected educator and community leader in the Fante region. She played a significant role in promoting education and empowering women during her lifetime.
While the GYEBI surname has its roots in Ghana, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its historical significance and ties to the Akan culture remain strong, serving as a reminder of the rich cultural heritage and traditions of the region.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Gyebi
Among Census respondents with the surname Gyebi, the largest self-reported group is Black at 95.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.9%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Gyebi 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 Gyebi surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American95.0% · 153
- Hispanic or Latino1.9% · 3
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.2% · 2
- Two or more races1.2% · 2
- White0.6% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Gyebi
Gyebi appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#115,151
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 161
+53 bearers (+49.1%)
Per 100,000 0.05
Rank movement Up 36,381 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #151,532 | 108 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #115,151 | 161 | 0.05 | +53 bearers (+49.1%) | Up 36,381 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 Gyebi 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 | #151,532 | #115,151 | 24.0% |
| Count | 108 | 161 | 49.1% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.05 | 34.7% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Gyebi bearers went from 108 to 161 (+49.1% change). The surname moved up 36,381 positions in the national ranking, going from #151,532 to #115,151.
FAQ
Gyebi surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Gyebi?
Name Census estimates that about 185 living Americans carry the surname Gyebi. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 1,852,726 residents.
How common is Gyebi?
Gyebi ranks #115,151 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.05 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 161 people with the surname Gyebi. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (185), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.05 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.05 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Gyebi.
Has Gyebi become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Gyebi went from 108 recorded bearers to 161. That is an increase of 53 (+49.1%). In the national ranking it rose from #151,532 to #115,151.
What does the Census say about the background of Gyebi?
Among Census respondents with the surname Gyebi, the largest self-reported group is Black at 95.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.9%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (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 Gyebi in the 2020 Census, accounting for 95.0% (153 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Gyebi appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Black (95.0%), Hispanic (1.9%), Asian/Pacific Islander (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 Gyebi (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 Gyebi mean?
A Ghanaian surname of the Akan people meaning "plantain". 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 Gyebi (0.05 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 people share the surname Gyebi?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.