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

Irungu, 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 Irungu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Irungu in America

Irungu is the 117480th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Irungu surname appeared 148 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 Irungu.

The history of the last name Irungu

The surname Irungu originates from Kenya, East Africa, and is primarily associated with the Kikuyu people. It is believed to have emerged during the 18th century or earlier, when the Kikuyu were establishing their presence in the central highlands of present-day Kenya.

Irungu is derived from the Kikuyu language and is believed to have connections to the word "irungu," which means a small hill or a raised piece of land. This suggests that the name may have originated as a descriptive term for individuals who lived on or near small hills or elevated areas.

Historical records and oral traditions suggest that the name Irungu was often associated with specific clans or lineages within the Kikuyu community. These clans played an important role in the social and cultural organization of the Kikuyu people, and surnames like Irungu helped to identify an individual's clan affiliation.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Irungu can be found in the writings of Johann Ludwig Krapf, a German missionary and explorer who traveled to East Africa in the mid-19th century. In his accounts, Krapf mentioned interacting with individuals bearing the name Irungu during his exploration of the Kikuyu lands.

Several notable individuals have carried the surname Irungu throughout history. One such figure was Irungu wa Kang'ethe, a prominent Kikuyu chief and leader who lived in the late 18th century. He is remembered for his role in negotiating peace treaties and promoting unity among the Kikuyu clans.

Another notable bearer of the name was Mwangi Irungu, a Kenyan freedom fighter who participated in the Mau Mau uprising against British colonial rule in the 1950s. He was born in the early 20th century and played a significant role in the struggle for Kenyan independence.

In more recent times, individuals like James Irungu Kaleli, a Kenyan politician and member of parliament born in the mid-20th century, and Mercy Irungu, a Kenyan entrepreneur and businesswoman active in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, have carried on the legacy of the Irungu surname.

Additionally, the name Irungu has been associated with various place names and geographic features in Kenya, further solidifying its connection to the Kikuyu people and their ancestral lands.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Irungu

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

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

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

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