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

Kariuki, 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 Kariuki surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kariuki in America

Kariuki is the 28311th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kariuki surname appeared 844 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 Kariuki.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kariuki 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 Kariuki

The surname Kariuki originated in Kenya, East Africa, and it has its roots in the Kikuyu language. The name can be traced back to the late 18th century, and it is believed to be derived from the Kikuyu word "karuru," which means "a watchman" or "a guardian."

The earliest recorded instances of the name Kariuki can be found in the historical records of the Kikuyu people, who inhabited the central highlands of Kenya. The name was initially associated with certain clans or sub-tribes within the Kikuyu community, and it was often used to identify individuals who performed specific roles or occupations related to guarding and protecting the community.

In the 19th century, as the Kikuyu people encountered European explorers and colonizers, the name Kariuki began to appear in written records and documents. One notable example is the account of Johann Ludwig Krapf, a German missionary who visited Kenya in the 1840s and documented his interactions with the Kikuyu people, including individuals bearing the name Kariuki.

During the colonial era in Kenya, which lasted from the late 19th century until the mid-20th century, the name Kariuki became more widely known and recognized outside of the Kikuyu community. Some prominent figures with the surname Kariuki emerged during this period, such as Jomo Kenyatta (1891-1978), a Kenyan political leader and the first President of Kenya after independence.

Another notable individual with the surname Kariuki was Daudi Kariuki Toroitich (1908-1975), a Kenyan politician and freedom fighter who played a significant role in the struggle for independence from British colonial rule. He was a member of the Kenya African Union (KAU) and later served as a member of parliament after Kenya gained its independence in 1963.

In more recent times, the surname Kariuki has been carried by individuals from various professions and backgrounds, such as Joseph Kariuki (1932-1975), a Kenyan politician and trade unionist, and Wangari Maathai (1940-2011), a renowned Kenyan environmental activist and the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

Overall, the surname Kariuki has a rich historical significance in Kenya, rooted in the Kikuyu language and culture. It has been borne by notable individuals who have played pivotal roles in shaping the country's political, social, and cultural landscape.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kariuki

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

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

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

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