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

Kamara, 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 Kamara surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kamara in America

Kamara is the 5530th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kamara surname appeared 6,288 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Kamara.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kamara 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 Kamara

The surname Kamara has its origins in West Africa, particularly in the countries of Guinea, Mali, and Senegal. It is believed to have originated from the Mandinka language, spoken by the Mandinka people, who are primarily found in these regions.

Kamara is derived from the Mandinka word "kama," which means "traveler" or "stranger." This suggests that the name may have been given to individuals who were travelers or newcomers to a particular area. It is also possible that the name was initially used to identify someone who had a distinctive appearance or behavior that set them apart from the local population.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Kamara can be traced back to the 13th century in West African historical records and manuscripts. During this time, the region was home to several powerful empires, such as the Mali Empire and the Songhai Empire, which played a significant role in the spread of trade and cultural exchange across the continent.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name Kamara was Sundiata Keita, also known as Mari Djata or Lion Prince. He was a legendary ruler of the Mali Empire who lived from around 1190 to 1255 AD. His exploits and military victories are documented in the Epic of Sundiata, an oral tradition that has been passed down through generations.

Another notable figure with the surname Kamara was Abubakari Kamara II, who ruled the Imamate of Futa Jallon (present-day Guinea) from 1751 to 1758. He was a prominent military leader and played a crucial role in the expansion of the Imamate's territories.

In the 19th century, a number of individuals with the surname Kamara were involved in the resistance against French colonization in West Africa. One such figure was Samory Touré, also known as Samory Kamara, who was a military leader and the founder of the Wassoulou Empire (present-day Guinea and Mali). He fiercely resisted French conquest from 1882 until his capture in 1898.

During the 20th century, the surname Kamara continued to be prevalent in West Africa, and several notable individuals bore this name. For instance, Abdoulaye Kamara was a Malian politician and diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mali from 1966 to 1969.

Another prominent figure was Siriman Kamara, a Malian politician and diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mali from 1978 to 1982. She was also the first woman to hold this position in Mali.

While the surname Kamara has its roots in West Africa, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, the historical significance and cultural connections of this surname remain firmly rooted in the rich tapestry of West African history and traditions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kamara

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

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

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

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