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

Kiwala, 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 Kiwala surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kiwala in America

Kiwala is the 149395th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kiwala surname appeared 110 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 Kiwala.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kiwala 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 Kiwala

The surname KIWALA has its origins in the Luhya community of Western Kenya. It is a name that can be traced back to the late 18th century, with roots in the Isukha sub-tribe. The name is derived from the Luhya word "khiwala," which means "to keep watch" or "to guard."

In the early 19th century, the name KIWALA appeared in records of the Wanga Kingdom, a powerful chiefdom that ruled over parts of what is now Kakamega County. It is believed that some members of the KIWALA clan held positions as royal guards or watchmen, which may have contributed to the name's origins.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name KIWALA can be found in the writings of Johann Ludwig Krapf, a German missionary who lived among the Luhya people in the 1840s. Krapf's journals mention a man named Wanjala KIWALA, who served as a guide and interpreter during his travels.

In the late 19th century, the name KIWALA gained prominence with the birth of Musa KIWALA (1875-1952), a renowned Luhya chieftain and leader. Musa KIWALA played a significant role in negotiating land agreements with the British colonial authorities and advocating for the rights of his people.

Another notable figure with the KIWALA surname was Reuben KIWALA (1920-1988), a prominent educator and writer. Reuben KIWALA authored several books on Luhya culture and language, contributing to the preservation of his community's heritage.

During the 20th century, the name KIWALA spread beyond Western Kenya as members of the community migrated to other parts of the country and abroad. One such individual was John KIWALA (1945-2010), a respected businessman and community leader who settled in Nairobi.

In the realm of sports, the name KIWALA gained recognition through the achievements of Beatrice KIWALA (born 1975), a Kenyan long-distance runner who won multiple international marathons and represented her country at the Olympic Games.

While the name KIWALA has its roots in the Luhya community of Western Kenya, it has become more widely dispersed in modern times, with individuals bearing this surname found in various parts of the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kiwala

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

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

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

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