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

Haruna, 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 Haruna surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Haruna in America

Haruna is the 138304th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Haruna surname appeared 121 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 Haruna.

The history of the last name Haruna

The surname Haruna is derived from a Hausa name, originating from the Hausa people of northern Nigeria and southern Niger. The Hausa are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa, with a rich cultural heritage dating back centuries.

The name Haruna can be traced back to the 14th century, when it was documented in historical records from the ancient Hausa city-states of present-day northern Nigeria. It is believed to have evolved from the Hausa word "hara," meaning "to make a journey" or "to travel," suggesting that the name may have been given to someone who frequently traveled or was a merchant.

In the 16th century, during the height of the Hausa Bakwai kingdoms, the name Haruna was associated with several prominent figures, including Haruna Nagudu, a revered Islamic scholar and poet from the city of Kano. His works, which were written in the Hausa language, have been preserved and remain influential in the region's literary tradition.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Haruna can be found in the writings of the famous Timbuktu scholar Ahmad Baba al-Massufi, who lived from 1556 to 1627. In his travels through the Hausa lands, he documented the name Haruna among the nobility and scholars of the region.

Throughout the centuries, the name Haruna has been associated with various notable individuals, such as Haruna Rasheed (1919-1995), a prominent Nigerian politician and diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the 1960s. Another notable figure was Haruna Ayagi (1932-2013), a renowned Nigerian painter and sculptor whose works celebrated the rich cultural heritage of the Hausa people.

Other historical figures bearing the surname Haruna include Haruna Koko (1880-1968), a respected chief and community leader in the Hausa city of Zaria, and Haruna Rasheed (1920-1988), a pioneering Nigerian journalist and editor who played a significant role in the country's independence movement.

While the surname Haruna originated in the Hausa region of West Africa, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange. However, its deep roots in the Hausa culture and history remain a testament to the rich tapestry of African names and their enduring legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Haruna

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

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

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

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