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

Konneh, 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 Konneh surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Konneh in America

Konneh is the 52736th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Konneh surname appeared 393 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 Konneh.

The history of the last name Konneh

The surname KONNEH has its origins in West Africa, specifically in the region of modern-day Liberia. It emerged during the late 18th century and is believed to be derived from the Vai language, one of the indigenous languages spoken in Liberia.

The name KONNEH is thought to be related to the Vai word "kɔnnɛ," which means "a skilled hunter." This connection suggests that the earliest bearers of this surname might have been renowned hunters or warriors in their respective communities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the KONNEH surname can be found in the accounts of European explorers and missionaries who visited the region in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. These records often mention individuals with variations of the name, such as KONNAH or KONNA.

In the early 20th century, a prominent figure named Joseph Jenkins KONNEH (1874-1932) emerged as a influential leader and advocate for the rights of the Vai people. He played a crucial role in preserving and promoting the Vai script, one of the few indigenous African writing systems.

Another notable KONNEH was Samuel Kpingbah KONNEH (1898-1972), a Liberian diplomat and politician who served as the country's Secretary of State and represented Liberia at various international conferences.

During the mid-20th century, Reverend Thomas J. KONNEH (1910-1986) became a respected figure in the Liberian Methodist Church, serving as a minister and advocating for social justice and education.

In the realm of literature, Liberian author and playwright J. Momolu KONNEH (1930-1997) gained recognition for his works that explored themes of cultural identity and the challenges faced by African societies in the post-colonial era.

More recently, Leymah Roberta KONNEH (born 1972) is a prominent Liberian peace activist and social worker who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011 for her role in promoting non-violent struggle for peace, democracy, and women's rights in Liberia.

While the KONNEH surname has its roots in West Africa, particularly in Liberia, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its historical significance and connections to the Vai people and their cultural heritage remain deeply embedded in its origins.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Konneh

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

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

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

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