Laryea
A surname of Ghanaian origin meaning "born on Wednesday".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 411 Americans carry the last name Laryea. That puts it at #58,042 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.12 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 833,952 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Laryea surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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.
Bearers in the US
411
1 in 833,952
Census rank
#58,042
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
350
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 350 bearers of the surname Laryea in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.12 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 58042nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Laryea, the largest self-reported group is Black at 94.9%. The next largest groups are White (1.7%) and Hispanic (1.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Laryea
The surname LARYEA originated in Ghana, West Africa, and is believed to have first appeared in the late 17th or early 18th century. It is thought to be derived from the Ga language word "laryea," which means "wanderer" or "traveler." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who frequently traveled or migrated from one place to another.
The name LARYEA is most commonly associated with the Ga people, an ethnic group native to the coastal regions of Ghana, particularly in and around the capital city of Accra. The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in some historical documents and records from the late 18th and early 19th centuries, primarily in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana.
One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname LARYEA was Nii Laryea Ashitey, a prominent Ga chief and leader who lived in the late 18th century. He played a significant role in the political and cultural affairs of the Ga people during that time period.
Another notable figure was Samuel Laryea, a Christian missionary and educator who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was instrumental in establishing several schools and churches in Ghana and contributed significantly to the spread of Christianity and education among the Ga people.
In the 20th century, Emmanuel Laryea was a prominent Ghanaian lawyer and politician. He served as a member of parliament and held several important government positions, including Minister of Justice and Attorney General, in the 1960s and 1970s.
Moving into the 21st century, Michael Laryea is a contemporary Ghanaian artist and sculptor who has gained international recognition for his intricate and symbolic works of art, which often explore themes of African identity and cultural heritage.
Another notable figure is Ebenezer Laryea, a renowned Ghanaian academic and researcher who has made significant contributions to the field of agriculture and environmental studies. He has authored several books and scientific publications and has been recognized with numerous awards and honors for his work.
While the LARYEA surname is most prevalent in Ghana, it has also been adopted by individuals of Ghanaian descent living in various parts of the world, particularly in other West African countries, as well as in the United States, Canada, and Europe.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Laryea
Among Census respondents with the surname Laryea, the largest self-reported group is Black at 94.9%. The next largest groups are White (1.7%) and Hispanic (1.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Laryea bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Laryea surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American94.9%
- Unknown or suppressed1.7%
- White1.7%
- Hispanic or Latino1.7%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Laryea surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #93,841 | #58,042 | 38.1% |
| Count | 181 | 350 | 93.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.07 | 0.12 | 71.4% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Laryea bearers went from 181 to 350 (+93.4% change). The surname moved up 35,799 positions in the national ranking, going from #93,841 to #58,042.
FAQ
Laryea surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Laryea?
The surname Laryea holds position #58,042 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 411 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.12 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Laryea surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Laryea, the largest self-reported group is Black at 94.9%. The next largest groups are White (1.7%) and Hispanic (1.7%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.