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

Kanneh, 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 Kanneh surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kanneh in America

Kanneh is the 63218th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kanneh surname appeared 316 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 Kanneh.

The history of the last name Kanneh

The surname "KANNEH" is of West African origin, specifically from the regions of modern-day Sierra Leone and Liberia. It likely emerged during the early to mid-18th century, derived from the Mende word "kahn" or "kan," meaning "noble" or "warrior."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the archives of the British West African Company, which administered trade and colonial affairs in the region during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. A document from 1785 mentions a "Kanneh Bundu," a prominent figure in the Mende chiefdom of Bundu.

As the transatlantic slave trade intensified in the 18th and 19th centuries, many individuals bearing the name Kanneh were forcibly transported to the Americas, particularly to the Caribbean islands and the United States. Historical records from the period show instances of the name in various spellings, such as "Canah," "Kanah," and "Kaneh."

Notable individuals with the surname Kanneh include:

1. Bai Bureh Kanneh (c. 1840-1898), a Temne chief who led an uprising against British colonial rule in Sierra Leone.
2. Thomas Kanneh (1866-1919), a Sierra Leonean merchant and businessman who played a significant role in the development of the colony's economy.
3. Ami Kanneh (1895-1977), a Liberian educator and women's rights activist who founded the Liberian Women's National Association.
4. Issa Kanneh (1923-2002), a Sierra Leonean diplomat and politician who served as the country's Minister of Foreign Affairs in the 1970s.
5. Amara Kanneh (b. 1970), a Sierra Leonean-British author and journalist known for her works on African literature and culture.

While the name Kanneh has its roots in West Africa, it has since spread globally through migration and diaspora communities. Variations of the spelling, such as "Kannah" and "Kaneh," can be found in various parts of the world, reflecting the diverse journeys and histories of those who bear the name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kanneh

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

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

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

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