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

Kofi, 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 Kofi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kofi in America

Kofi is the 158432nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kofi surname appeared 102 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 Kofi.

The history of the last name Kofi

The surname Kofi is of Ghanaian origin, specifically from the Akan people of Ghana. The name is believed to have originated in the late 15th century or early 16th century, during the time of the Ashanti Empire in modern-day Ghana.

Kofi is derived from the Akan word "kƆfrƱ," which means "born on Friday." In Akan culture, it was common practice to give a child a name based on the day of the week they were born, with Kofi being the name for boys born on Friday.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Kofi can be found in historical records and documents from the Ashanti Empire and surrounding regions. However, due to the oral tradition prevalent in West African cultures at the time, written records of the name's usage may be limited.

One of the earliest known historical figures to bear the name Kofi was Kofi Kakari, a famous Ashanti warrior and military leader who lived in the late 17th century. He is renowned for his bravery and leadership during conflicts with neighboring kingdoms.

Another notable figure was Kofi Amoah, a prominent Ghanaian merchant and trader who lived in the 18th century. He played a crucial role in the trade between the Ashanti Empire and European traders along the coast of Ghana.

In the 19th century, Kofi Badu was a respected chief and diplomat from the Ashanti region. He was instrumental in negotiating treaties and maintaining peaceful relations between the Ashanti Empire and the British colonial authorities.

During the 20th century, Kofi Annan, a Ghanaian diplomat and the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations (1997-2006), brought international recognition to the name. He was born in 1938 and passed away in 2018.

Another notable figure was Kofi Abrefa Busia, a Ghanaian scholar, philosopher, and prime minister of Ghana from 1969 to 1972. He was born in 1913 and died in 1978.

While the surname Kofi has its roots in Ghana and the Akan people, it has since spread to other parts of West Africa and beyond, carried by individuals of Ghanaian descent or those with connections to the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kofi

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

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

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

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