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

Kyei, 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 Kyei surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kyei in America

Kyei is the 75799th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kyei surname appeared 254 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 Kyei.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kyei 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 Kyei

The surname KYEI originates from the West African country of Ghana. It can be traced back to the Akan people, who are one of the largest ethnic groups in the region. The name is believed to have originated in the 16th century during the time of the great Ashanti Empire.

KYEI is derived from the Akan word "kyere," which means "to show" or "to guide." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to individuals who served as guides or leaders within their communities. It's also possible that the name was bestowed upon those who were skilled in teaching or imparting knowledge.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the writings of European travelers and missionaries who visited the region during the 17th and 18th centuries. These accounts often mentioned individuals with the surname KYEI, indicating its presence in various parts of what is now known as Ghana.

Historical records from the Ashanti Empire, such as royal chronicles and oral traditions, also mention individuals bearing the name KYEI. These references suggest that the name was not uncommon among the nobility and elite classes of the time.

Notable individuals who carried the surname KYEI include:

1. Nana Kyei I (c. 1650-1717), a prominent chief and military leader from the Ashanti region, known for his role in expanding the empire's territories.

2. Akosua Kyei (c. 1720-1795), a renowned healer and herbalist who was highly respected for her knowledge of traditional medicine.

3. Opoku Kyei (1802-1879), a respected elder and advisor to the Ashanti king during a period of intense conflict with British colonial forces.

4. Kwame Kyei (1865-1937), a prominent trader and merchant who established trade routes across West Africa and facilitated cultural exchange.

5. Nana Kyei II (1890-1962), a powerful chief and advocate for the preservation of Ashanti cultural traditions during the colonial era.

The name KYEI has also been associated with various place names in Ghana, such as Kyebi, a town in the Eastern Region, and Kyeraduren, a village in the Ashanti Region. These place names may have derived from individuals who bore the surname and played significant roles in the history and development of those areas.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kyei

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

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

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

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