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

Kanuri, 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 Kanuri surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kanuri in America

Kanuri is the 133048th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kanuri surname appeared 127 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 Kanuri.

The history of the last name Kanuri

The surname KANURI has its origins in the Kanuri people, an ethnic group primarily found in northeastern Nigeria, northwestern Cameroon, and south-central areas of Niger and Chad. The name is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 11th century, when the Kanuri established the Kanem-Bornu Empire, a powerful state that ruled over a vast territory in central Africa.

The Kanuri language, part of the Nilo-Saharan language family, is closely tied to the surname's roots. The name itself is derived from the word "Kanuri," which refers to the ethnic group and their language. Historical records from the Kanem-Bornu Empire, such as chronicles and inscriptions, often mentioned individuals with the surname KANURI, reflecting their prominent role in the region's political and cultural landscape.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name KANURI can be found in the writings of Ibn Battuta, a famous Moroccan explorer who visited the Kanem-Bornu Empire in the 14th century. In his travelogue, he mentions encounters with individuals bearing the KANURI surname, providing valuable insight into the name's prevalence during that time.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the KANURI surname. One prominent figure was Mai Idris Aloma (1564-1610), a renowned ruler of the Kanem-Bornu Empire known for his military conquests and efforts to promote Islam. Another influential figure was Shehu Usman dan Fodio (1754-1817), a Islamic scholar and religious leader who played a pivotal role in the Sokoto Caliphate's establishment.

Other notable individuals with the KANURI surname include:

1. Barka Gana Kanuri (1897-1957), a Nigerian politician and one of the founders of the Northern People's Congress.
2. Yerima Mustafa Kanuri (1934-2018), a Nigerian historian and author, known for his works on the Kanuri people and their history.
3. Aisha Lami Kanuri (1942-2018), a Nigerian writer and educator, recognized for her contributions to Kanuri literature and education.
4. Muhammad Nur Kanuri (1941-2014), a Nigerian politician and businessman, who served as a member of the Borno State House of Assembly.
5. Usman Gaji Galtimari Kanuri (1926-2003), a Nigerian historian and author, known for his research on the Kanem-Bornu Empire and the Kanuri people.

These individuals, along with many others, have carried the KANURI surname throughout history, contributing to various fields and leaving a lasting impact on the cultural heritage of the Kanuri people and the regions they inhabited.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kanuri

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

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

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

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