2000
#28,298
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 795
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.29
Rare Last name
Koroma
A surname of West African origin, believed to derive from the Temne word "koro" meaning "wealthy" or "fortunate."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,811 Americans carry the last name Koroma. That puts it at #12,140 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.82 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 121,933 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Koroma surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Koroma with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
2.8K
1 in 121,933
Census rank
#12,140
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.5K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,451 bearers of the surname Koroma in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.82 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 12140th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Koroma, the largest self-reported group is Black at 95.6%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.9%) and White (1.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Koroma
The surname KOROMA originated in Sierra Leone, a country located on the western coast of Africa. The name dates back to the late 16th century and is believed to have its roots in the Temne language, one of the largest ethnic groups in Sierra Leone.
One theory suggests that KOROMA is derived from the Temne word "koro," which means "hunter" or "warrior." This could indicate that the name was initially given to individuals who were skilled hunters or warriors within their communities. Another interpretation proposes that the name might be linked to a specific geographical location or village within Sierra Leone.
The earliest recorded instances of the KOROMA surname can be traced back to the 17th century, although the exact dates and contexts are unclear due to the limited historical records from that period. It is likely that the name appeared in various local documents and oral traditions before being documented in written form.
One notable figure bearing the KOROMA surname was Bai Bureh Koroma, a prominent Temne chief who led a significant resistance against British colonial rule in Sierra Leone in the late 19th century. He was born around 1840 and played a crucial role in defending the sovereignty of his people during the Hut Tax War of 1898.
Another historical figure with the KOROMA name was Sorie Ibrahim Koroma, a Sierra Leonean politician who served as the country's Vice President from 2002 to 2007. He was born in 1951 and played a pivotal role in the country's post-conflict reconstruction efforts.
In the realm of literature, Syl Cheney-Coker, a renowned Sierra Leonean poet and novelist, carried the KOROMA surname. He was born in 1945 and is best known for his works that explored themes of identity, culture, and the aftermath of colonialism in Africa.
Another individual of note was Brima Acha Koroma, a Sierra Leonean businessman and philanthropist who lived in the late 20th century. He was actively involved in various charitable initiatives and contributed significantly to the development of his local community.
Lastly, Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Koroma, a prominent Sierra Leonean politician, served as the country's Vice President from 2007 to 2015. He played a crucial role in the government during a period of political transition and economic recovery.
While the KOROMA surname is primarily associated with Sierra Leone, it is possible that individuals bearing this name may have migrated to other parts of the world over time, carrying the legacy of their ancestral roots with them.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Koroma
Among Census respondents with the surname Koroma, the largest self-reported group is Black at 95.6%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.9%) and White (1.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Koroma bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Koroma surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American95.6% · 2,344
- Two or more races1.9% · 46
- White1.2% · 29
- Hispanic or Latino0.8% · 20
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.3% · 7
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.2% · 5
Timeline
Historical Census data for Koroma
Koroma appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#16,560
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,733
+938 bearers (+118.0%)
Per 100,000 0.59
Rank movement Up 11,738 places
2020
#12,140
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,451
+718 bearers (+41.4%)
Per 100,000 0.82
Rank movement Up 4,420 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #28,298 | 795 | 0.29 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #16,560 | 1,733 | 0.59 | +938 bearers (+118.0%) | Up 11,738 places |
| 2020 | #12,140 | 2,451 | 0.82 | +718 bearers (+41.4%) | Up 4,420 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Koroma surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #16,560 | #12,140 | 26.7% |
| Count | 1,733 | 2,451 | 41.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.59 | 0.82 | 39.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Koroma bearers went from 1,733 to 2,451 (+41.4% change). The surname moved up 4,420 positions in the national ranking, going from #16,560 to #12,140.
FAQ
Koroma surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Koroma?
Name Census estimates that about 2,811 living Americans carry the surname Koroma. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 121,933 residents.
How common is Koroma?
Koroma ranks #12,140 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.82 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 2,451 people with the surname Koroma. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (2,811), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.82 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.82 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Koroma.
Has Koroma become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Koroma went from 1,733 recorded bearers to 2,451. That is an increase of 718 (+41.4%). In the national ranking it rose from #16,560 to #12,140.
What does the Census say about the background of Koroma?
Among Census respondents with the surname Koroma, the largest self-reported group is Black at 95.6%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.9%) and White (1.2%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Black is the largest self-reported group for the surname Koroma in the 2020 Census, accounting for 95.6% (2,344 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Koroma appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Black (95.6%), Two or More Races (1.9%), White (1.2%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Koroma (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Koroma mean?
A surname of West African origin, believed to derive from the Temne word "koro" meaning "wealthy" or "fortunate." The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Koroma (0.82 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How common is the surname Koroma?
For a quick modern take, check how many people have the surname Koroma on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.