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

Ige, 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 Ige surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ige in America

Ige is the 30076th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ige surname appeared 780 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 Ige.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ige 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 Ige

The surname IGE has its origins in the West African nation of Nigeria. It is a name that dates back to the 16th century and is believed to have derived from the Yoruba language, one of the most widely spoken languages in Nigeria.

The name IGE is thought to have its roots in the Yoruba word "igé," which means "dignity" or "honor." It is possible that the name was initially given to individuals who exhibited these traits or held positions of respect within their communities.

In some of the earliest known records from the region, the name IGE appears in various forms, such as Ige, Igeh, and Igay. These variations suggest that the name may have had different spellings or pronunciations across different areas or dialects of Yoruba.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name IGE can be found in a historical document from the 17th century, which mentions an individual named Oluwadare Ige, a respected leader and advisor to the Oyo Empire, a powerful Yoruba kingdom that ruled parts of present-day southwestern Nigeria.

Over the centuries, the name IGE has been associated with several notable figures in Nigerian history. One such individual was Bola Ige, a prominent Nigerian politician and lawyer who served as the Attorney General and Minister of Justice in Nigeria from 1999 to 2002. He was born in 1930 and tragically assassinated in 2001.

Another significant figure bearing the IGE surname was Olabisi Ige, a pioneering Nigerian educator and women's rights activist. She was born in 1916 and played a crucial role in establishing the first teacher training college for women in Nigeria, the Reverend Kuti Memorial Grammar School.

In the realm of literature, Akinwunmi Ige, a Nigerian poet and playwright, made significant contributions to the literary landscape of the country. He was born in 1940 and is renowned for his works that explored themes of social justice and cultural identity.

Turning to the world of sports, Olanrewaju Ige was a renowned Nigerian football player who represented his country in international competitions during the 1980s and 1990s. He was born in 1960 and was known for his skillful gameplay and leadership on the field.

While the surname IGE has its roots in Nigeria, it has also spread to other parts of the world due to migration and cultural exchange. However, it remains closely associated with the rich history and heritage of the Yoruba people in Nigeria.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ige

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

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

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

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