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

Kotey, 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 Kotey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kotey in America

Kotey is the 93125th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kotey surname appeared 197 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 Kotey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kotey 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 Kotey

The surname Kotey is believed to have originated from the Akan people of West Africa, specifically in present-day Ghana. The name is thought to be derived from the Akan word "kote," which means "stranger" or "visitor." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who was perceived as a foreigner or newcomer in a particular community.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kotey can be found in historical documents from the 18th century, during the era of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. It is possible that some individuals with this surname may have been among those forcibly transported from West Africa to the Americas during this period.

In Ghana, the name Kotey is commonly associated with the Akan ethnic group, particularly the Fante and Asante subgroups. It is believed to have originated in the coastal regions of present-day Ghana, where the Fante people have traditionally lived.

Notable individuals with the surname Kotey include:

1. Kwame Kotey (1923-2008), a Ghanaian politician and diplomat who served as the country's Minister of Foreign Affairs in the 1960s.
2. Nana Kwadwo Kotey II (1898-1978), a prominent Ghanaian chief and traditional ruler from the Akuapem region.
3. Joseph Kotey (born 1952), a Ghanaian footballer who played for the national team in the 1970s.
4. Alexis Kotey (born 1983), a British national who was part of the Islamic State militant group and was involved in the kidnapping and execution of Western hostages in Syria.
5. Ama Kotey (born 1956), a Ghanaian writer and academic who has published several books on African literature and culture.

While the name Kotey is primarily associated with Ghana and the Akan people, it is possible that variations of the name may have spread to other parts of West Africa and even beyond due to migration and cultural exchange over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kotey

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

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

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

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