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

Kasongo, 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 Kasongo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kasongo in America

Kasongo is the 87335th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kasongo surname appeared 213 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 Kasongo.

The history of the last name Kasongo

The surname Kasongo is believed to have originated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a vast country located in central Africa. Its roots can be traced back to the Bantu languages spoken by various ethnic groups in the region.

One theory suggests that Kasongo is derived from the word "Kasong," which means "river" or "stream" in certain Bantu dialects. This linguistic connection could indicate that the name may have initially referred to individuals who lived near or were associated with a particular river or waterway.

Historically, the Kasongo name appears to have been concentrated in the eastern and southern regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, particularly among the Luba and Lunda ethnic groups. These communities have a rich cultural heritage and played significant roles in the development of various kingdoms and empires that once flourished in the area.

While specific records documenting the earliest appearances of the Kasongo surname are scarce, it is believed to have gained prominence during the 17th and 18th centuries when the Lunda Empire, led by the powerful Mwata Yamvo rulers, held sway over a vast territory spanning parts of present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, and Zambia.

One notable figure bearing the Kasongo name was Mwata Kasongo, a ruler of the Lunda Empire who reigned in the late 18th century. His reign was marked by territorial expansions and the establishment of trade routes that facilitated economic growth and cultural exchange within the region.

Another historical figure associated with the Kasongo surname was Ngonga Kasongo, a renowned warrior and military leader who served under the Lunda ruler Mwata Kazembe in the early 19th century. Ngonga Kasongo played a crucial role in defending the empire's territories and expanding its influence through military campaigns.

In more recent times, a prominent individual bearing the Kasongo surname was Patrice Lumumba, a Congolese politician and independence leader who served as the first democratically elected Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (then known as the Republic of Congo) in 1960. Lumumba, who was born in 1925 and assassinated in 1961, played a pivotal role in the country's struggle for independence from Belgian colonial rule.

Another notable figure with the Kasongo surname was André Kasongo, a Congolese musician and songwriter who gained international recognition for his contributions to the popularization of Soukous music, a genre that blended traditional Congolese rhythms with elements of Caribbean and Latin American styles. André Kasongo was born in 1938 and passed away in 1995.

Over the centuries, the Kasongo surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including politicians, military leaders, artists, and musicians, reflecting the rich cultural diversity and historical significance of the name within the Democratic Republic of the Congo and its neighboring regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kasongo

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

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

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

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