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

Janneh, 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 Janneh surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Janneh in America

Janneh is the 80419th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Janneh surname appeared 236 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 Janneh.

The history of the last name Janneh

The surname Janneh has its origins in the Gambia, a small West African country. It is believed to have originated from the Mandinka people, one of the largest ethnic groups in the region. The name is thought to be derived from the Mandinka word "janneh," which means "born on Friday."

The earliest recorded instances of the name Janneh can be traced back to the 16th century, when it appeared in local records and documents. During this time period, the Gambia was a major trading hub for the trans-Saharan trade routes, and the name Janneh may have been associated with families involved in this commerce.

In the 18th century, the Janneh name is found in records related to the establishment of the British colony of Bathurst (now Banjul), the capital of the Gambia. Some notable individuals from this era include Alhaji Alieu Janneh, a prominent merchant and landowner in the early 1800s, and Alhaji Sulayman Janneh, a respected religious leader and scholar in the mid-1800s.

As the Gambia became a British protectorate in the late 19th century, the Janneh name gained wider recognition. One notable figure was Sir Dawda Kairaba Janneh, a prominent politician and civil servant who played a crucial role in the country's transition to independence in the 1960s. He served as the first Minister of Education and Minister of Finance in the independent Gambia.

Another renowned individual was Dr. Lenrie Janneh, a prominent economist and international civil servant. He served as the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa from 2005 to 2012, and was widely respected for his contributions to economic development and regional integration in Africa.

Over the centuries, the Janneh name has also been associated with various place names in the Gambia, such as Janneh Kunda (a village) and Janneh Bureh (a historical town). These place names reflect the presence and influence of the Janneh family in different parts of the country.

While the Janneh surname originated in the Gambia, it has since spread to other parts of West Africa and beyond, carried by migration and diaspora communities. Despite its global reach, the name remains firmly rooted in its Mandinka and Gambian heritage, serving as a testament to the rich cultural and historical legacy of the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Janneh

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

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

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

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