2000
#141,788
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 108
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Idehen
A surname derived from a personal name of Nigerian origin.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 272 Americans carry the last name Idehen. That puts it at #85,054 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.08 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,260,126 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Idehen 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.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Idehen with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
272
1 in 1,260,126
Census rank
#85,054
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
237
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 237 bearers of the surname Idehen in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.08 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 85054th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Idehen, the largest self-reported group is Black at 95.8%. The next largest groups are White (2.1%) and Two or More Races (1.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Idehen
The surname Idehen is of Nigerian origin, specifically from the Edo-speaking people of the southern region of the country. It is believed to have emerged during the 16th century in the Kingdom of Benin, which was a powerful empire located in what is now modern-day Edo State.
The name Idehen is derived from the Edo word "Ide," which means "life" or "existence," and the suffix "hen," which indicates a possessive form. Thus, the literal translation of Idehen would be "owner of life" or "possessor of existence." This name may have been given to individuals who were considered vital for the continuation of their lineage or community.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Idehen can be found in the oral traditions and historical accounts of the Edo people. It is said that during the reign of Oba Ewuare the Great, who ruled the Kingdom of Benin from 1440 to 1473, there was a notable figure named Idehen who served as a trusted advisor and military strategist.
Another prominent bearer of the name Idehen was Ogiamien Idehen, a skilled sculptor who lived in the 17th century. He is renowned for his intricate carvings and sculptures that adorned the royal palaces and shrines of the Benin Kingdom, showcasing the artistic excellence of the Edo people.
In the 19th century, Chief Idehen Ogbeide was a prominent leader and spokesperson for the Edo people during the British colonial era. He played a crucial role in negotiating treaties and advocating for the rights and interests of his people in the face of colonial rule.
Idehen Igiehon, born in 1892 and died in 1968, was a renowned educator and activist who dedicated his life to promoting literacy and education among the Edo people. He established several schools and worked tirelessly to preserve the cultural heritage and traditions of his community.
Lastly, Dr. Idehen Amadasun, born in 1938, is a distinguished medical professional and academic who has made significant contributions to the field of public health in Nigeria. He served as the Dean of the College of Medicine at the University of Benin and has received numerous accolades for his work in improving healthcare access and quality in the region.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the surname Idehen throughout history, showcasing the rich cultural heritage and significance of this name among the Edo-speaking people of Nigeria.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Idehen
Among Census respondents with the surname Idehen, the largest self-reported group is Black at 95.8%. The next largest groups are White (2.1%) and Two or More Races (1.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Idehen 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 Idehen surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American95.8% · 227
- White2.1% · 5
- Two or more races1.7% · 4
- Hispanic or Latino0.4% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Idehen
Idehen appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#107,134
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 166
+58 bearers (+53.7%)
Per 100,000 0.06
Rank movement Up 34,654 places
2020
#85,054
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 237
+71 bearers (+42.8%)
Per 100,000 0.08
Rank movement Up 22,080 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #141,788 | 108 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #107,134 | 166 | 0.06 | +58 bearers (+53.7%) | Up 34,654 places |
| 2020 | #85,054 | 237 | 0.08 | +71 bearers (+42.8%) | Up 22,080 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 Idehen 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 | #107,134 | #85,054 | 20.6% |
| Count | 166 | 237 | 42.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.06 | 0.08 | 32.2% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Idehen bearers went from 166 to 237 (+42.8% change). The surname moved up 22,080 positions in the national ranking, going from #107,134 to #85,054.
FAQ
Idehen surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Idehen?
Name Census estimates that about 272 living Americans carry the surname Idehen. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 1,260,126 residents.
How common is Idehen?
Idehen ranks #85,054 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.08 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 237 people with the surname Idehen. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (272), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.08 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.08 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 Idehen.
Has Idehen become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Idehen went from 166 recorded bearers to 237. That is an increase of 71 (+42.8%). In the national ranking it rose from #107,134 to #85,054.
What does the Census say about the background of Idehen?
Among Census respondents with the surname Idehen, the largest self-reported group is Black at 95.8%. The next largest groups are White (2.1%) and Two or More Races (1.7%). 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 Idehen in the 2020 Census, accounting for 95.8% (227 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Idehen appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Black (95.8%), White (2.1%), Two or More Races (1.7%). 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 Idehen (2000, 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 Idehen mean?
A surname derived from a personal name of Nigerian origin. 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 Idehen (0.08 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 are called Idehen?
For a quick modern take, check how common the surname Idehen is on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.