Lwanga
An Ugandan surname derived from the Luganda word "olwanga" meaning "lake."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 103 Americans carry the last name Lwanga. That puts it at #160,975 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 3,327,712 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Lwanga 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
103
1 in 3,327,712
Census rank
#160,975
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
100
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 100 bearers of the surname Lwanga in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 160975th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Lwanga, the largest self-reported group is Black at 93.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Lwanga
The surname Lwanga originated from Uganda, East Africa. It is believed to have emerged during the late 19th century. The name is derived from the Luganda language, spoken by the Baganda people of the Buganda Kingdom, which was located in present-day central Uganda.
Lwanga is a Luganda word that means "born on Monday." In traditional Baganda culture, children were often named after the day of the week on which they were born. This practice was deeply rooted in their beliefs and traditions.
The earliest recorded reference to the Lwanga surname can be found in the writings of British explorers and missionaries who visited the Buganda Kingdom in the late 19th century. One notable example is the account of John Hanning Speke, who documented his encounters with the Baganda people during his journey to discover the source of the Nile River in 1862.
One of the most famous individuals to bear the Lwanga surname was Saint Charles Lwanga. He was a Ugandan Catholic martyr who was killed for his faith in 1886 under the orders of the Buganda King Mwanga II. Charles Lwanga and his companions, known as the Uganda Martyrs, were canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1964.
Another notable figure with the Lwanga surname was Joseph Lwanga, a Ugandan politician and diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Uganda from 1986 to 1988. He played a crucial role in rebuilding Uganda's diplomatic relations after years of political turmoil.
In the field of sports, Emmanuel Lwanga was a Ugandan boxer who competed in the lightweight division during the 1970s and 1980s. He won several national and regional championships and represented Uganda in international competitions.
The Lwanga surname has also been associated with prominent figures in the fields of education and literature. One such individual was Mary Lwanga, a Ugandan educator and author who wrote extensively on topics related to children's literature and cultural preservation.
While the Lwanga surname originated in Uganda, it has since spread to other parts of East Africa and beyond due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its roots can be traced back to the Baganda people and their traditional naming practices, reflecting a rich cultural heritage.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Lwanga
Among Census respondents with the surname Lwanga, the largest self-reported group is Black at 93.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Lwanga 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 Lwanga surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American93.0%
- Hispanic or Latino5.0%
- Unknown or suppressed2.0%
FAQ
Lwanga surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Lwanga?
The surname Lwanga holds position #160,975 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 103 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.03 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Lwanga surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Lwanga, the largest self-reported group is Black at 93.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.0%). 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.