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

Iwuagwu, 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 Iwuagwu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Iwuagwu in America

Iwuagwu is the 116201st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Iwuagwu surname appeared 150 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 Iwuagwu.

The history of the last name Iwuagwu

The surname "IWUAGWU" originates from the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria. It is believed to have originated in the late 15th or early 16th century during the height of the Nri Kingdom, one of the oldest Igbo civilizations.

The name IWUAGWU is derived from the Igbo words "iwu" meaning "law" or "tradition" and "agwu" meaning "god" or "deity." Thus, the name IWUAGWU can be interpreted as "the law or tradition of the deity" or "the law or tradition of the gods."

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the IWUAGWU surname can be found in the oral histories and folktales of the Nri Kingdom, which were passed down through generations of griots and storytellers. These tales often referenced important clan leaders and elders who carried the IWUAGWU name.

In the 17th century, during the establishment of European trade routes and the documentation of African societies by European explorers and missionaries, the IWUAGWU name began appearing in written records. One notable example is the journal of a Dutch trader who documented his interactions with an IWUAGWU clan leader in the region of present-day Anambra State.

Throughout the centuries, several prominent individuals have carried the IWUAGWU surname. One of the earliest recorded was Nwankwo Iwuagwu (1675-1745), a renowned warrior and leader of the Agulu clan. Another notable figure was Ifeoma Iwuagwu (1820-1892), a respected healer and herbalist who was widely sought after for her knowledge of traditional Igbo medicine.

During the 19th century, the IWUAGWU name was also associated with the Igbo diaspora and the transatlantic slave trade. Chukwudi Iwuagwu (1795-1865) was an Igbo man who was enslaved and transported to the Caribbean, eventually gaining his freedom and becoming a successful merchant in Jamaica.

In more recent history, notable IWUAGWU individuals include Chinua Iwuagwu (1930-2013), a celebrated Igbo novelist and playwright, and Adaobi Iwuagwu (1955-), a renowned Nigerian academic and activist for women's rights.

While the IWUAGWU surname has its roots in the Igbo culture of southeastern Nigeria, it has since spread across the world, carried by the Igbo diaspora and those of Igbo descent. The name continues to hold cultural significance and represents a rich heritage and tradition.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Iwuagwu

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

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

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

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