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

Ibeh, 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 Ibeh surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ibeh in America

Ibeh is the 90853rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ibeh surname appeared 203 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 Ibeh.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ibeh 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 Ibeh

The surname IBEH originates from Nigeria, with roots tracing back to the Igbo ethnic group of southeastern Nigeria. It is believed to have emerged in the 15th century or earlier, although the exact origin and meaning behind the name remain uncertain.

Some theories suggest that IBEH is derived from the Igbo word "ibe," which means "friend" or "companion." This could indicate that the name was initially given to someone who was considered a loyal and trustworthy friend or ally. Alternatively, it may have been a descriptive name referring to someone with a friendly or sociable demeanor.

Historical records from the region are scarce, but there are mentions of the name IBEH in various Igbo oral traditions and folklores. One notable figure is Okorie IBEH, a celebrated warrior and leader from the ancient Igbo kingdom of Nri, who is said to have lived in the late 16th century.

The earliest documented instance of the name IBEH can be found in the records of the Arochukwu Slave Trade, which took place in the 18th and 19th centuries. Several individuals with the surname IBEH were listed among the captives and traders involved in this infamous slave trade.

During the colonial era in Nigeria, the name IBEH appeared in various administrative records and government documents. Notable individuals from this period include Eze IBEH (1825-1901), a prominent chief and landowner in the Enugu region, and Nwankwo IBEH (1870-1942), a respected elder and mediator who played a crucial role in resolving disputes between local communities and the British colonial authorities.

In the 20th century, the IBEH surname gained further recognition with individuals such as Chukwuemeka IBEH (1920-2005), a renowned educator and author who wrote extensively on Igbo culture and traditions, and Ngozi IBEH (1945-2018), a celebrated artist and sculptor whose works were exhibited globally.

More recently, Uchenna IBEH (born 1978) has made a name for himself as a successful entrepreneur and business leader, founding several companies in the technology and telecommunications sectors.

It is worth noting that variations in spelling, such as IBEH, IBEY, or IBERE, may exist due to regional dialects or transcription differences, but these are considered variations of the same surname rooted in the Igbo culture of Nigeria.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ibeh

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

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

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

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