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

Macharia, 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 Macharia surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Macharia in America

Macharia is the 45026th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Macharia surname appeared 476 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 Macharia.

We can also compare 2010 data for Macharia 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 Macharia

The surname Macharia is of Kenyan origin, originating from the Kikuyu tribe. It first emerged in the late 18th century, derived from the Kikuyu word "macharia," which means "one who rises early." This name was likely given to individuals who were known for their diligent and hardworking nature, as they would wake up early to tend to their daily tasks.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Macharia can be found in historical documents and records from the colonial era in Kenya. One notable example is John Macharia, a prominent Kikuyu chief who lived in the late 19th century and played a significant role in negotiating with British colonial authorities during the establishment of the British East Africa Protectorate.

Another historical figure with the surname Macharia is Jomo Macharia, a Kenyan freedom fighter and activist who participated in the Mau Mau uprising against British colonial rule in the 1950s. He was born in 1920 and spent several years in detention camps during the uprising.

In the 20th century, the name Macharia became more widely recognized with the rise of Dr. John Njoroge Michuki, a prominent Kenyan politician and former Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. Born in 1932, Michuki played a significant role in Kenya's political landscape and was known for his efforts in environmental conservation and anti-corruption initiatives.

Other notable individuals with the surname Macharia include Joseph Macharia, a Kenyan businessman and philanthropist who founded the Macharia Education Trust, a non-profit organization that provides educational opportunities to underprivileged children in Kenya. He was born in 1945 and has been recognized for his philanthropic efforts.

William Macharia, a Kenyan entrepreneur and co-founder of the Royal Media Services, one of the largest media conglomerates in East Africa, is another prominent figure with this surname. Born in 1960, he has made significant contributions to the media industry in Kenya and the region.

While the surname Macharia is predominantly found in Kenya, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins and historical significance remain deeply rooted in the Kikuyu culture and the rich heritage of Kenya.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Macharia

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

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

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

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