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

Iheme, 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 Iheme surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Iheme in America

Iheme is the 105600th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Iheme surname appeared 169 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 Iheme.

The history of the last name Iheme

The surname IHEME traces its origins to the Igbo tribe of southeastern Nigeria. The name is believed to have emerged in the 15th century in the region around the towns of Owerri and Orlu. It is derived from the Igbo words "ihe" meaning "thing" and "eme" meaning "to do or make," suggesting the name may have originally referred to a craftsman or artisan.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the IHEME surname appears in a local chronicle from the late 16th century, which mentions an Obi IHEME as a respected elder in the village of Nkwerre. In the 18th century, the name is found in records of trade between Igbo merchants and European traders along the Niger River.

During the 19th century, the IHEME name began to spread more widely throughout the region as family members migrated to other parts of what is now southeastern Nigeria. A notable figure from this era was Nnamdi IHEME (1832-1904), a wealthy trader and landowner in the town of Aba.

The 20th century saw several prominent individuals with the IHEME surname, including Chukwuemeka IHEME (1912-1995), a respected writer and educator who published several books on Igbo culture and folklore. Another was Adaobi IHEME (1926-2003), one of the first female lawyers in Nigeria and a pioneering advocate for women's rights.

In more recent times, the IHEME name has become well-known internationally, particularly through the actor Ral IHEME, born in 1987, who has starred in numerous Nollywood films and television shows. Another notable figure is Chinua IHEME (1958-), a professor of linguistics at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and a leading expert on Igbo language and literature.

While the IHEME surname is most commonly associated with the Igbo people of Nigeria, it can also be found among some families in other parts of West Africa, likely due to migration and intermarriage over the centuries. Overall, the name has a rich history deeply rooted in the cultural traditions of southeastern Nigeria.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Iheme

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

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

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

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