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

Harjo, 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 Harjo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Harjo in America

Harjo is the 13903rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Harjo surname appeared 2,172 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Harjo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Harjo to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Harjo

The surname HARJO originated from the Muscogee Creek Native American tribe, which is located primarily in the Southeastern United States. The name is believed to have derived from the Muscogee Creek word "harjo," meaning "crazy" or "wild." This suggests that the surname may have been given to an individual who exhibited unconventional or eccentric behavior.

The Muscogee Creek tribe has a rich history that can be traced back to the 16th century when they inhabited areas of present-day Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. Records of the HARJO surname can be found in various historical documents, including treaties and land records between the Muscogee Creek tribe and the United States government.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname HARJO was Opothle Yaholo, also known as Opothleyaholo or Opothleyoholo HARJO, a prominent leader of the Creek Nation in the early 19th century. He was born around 1760 and played a significant role in the Creek War of 1813-1814, leading a faction of the Creeks against American forces.

Another notable figure was Chitto HARJO, a Muscogee Creek leader born around 1846. He was a prominent figure in the Creek Nation's resistance against the allotment of tribal lands and the assimilation policies of the United States government in the late 19th century. Chitto HARJO led a group of Creek traditionalists known as the "Crazy Snakes" or "Harjo Band," which fiercely opposed the encroachment of white settlers and the loss of tribal lands.

In the early 20th century, Levi HARJO, born in 1872, was a respected member of the Creek Nation and served as a delegate to the Creek National Council. He played a crucial role in the negotiation and ratification of the Creek Allotment Agreement of 1901, which aimed to protect the rights and lands of the Creek people.

Another notable individual was Woodrow HARJO, born in 1933, a renowned Muscogee Creek artist and potter. He was instrumental in reviving and preserving the traditional pottery-making techniques of the Creek Nation, and his works are celebrated for their intricate designs and cultural significance.

Lastly, Joy HARJO, born in 1951, is a celebrated Native American poet, musician, and playwright. She is a member of the Muscogee Creek Nation and has received numerous accolades for her literary works, including the prestigious Poet Laureate of the United States from 2019 to 2022. Her poetry often explores themes of indigenous identity, spirituality, and the connection to the land.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Harjo

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

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 Harjo 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.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Harjo has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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

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

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