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

Mandela, 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 Mandela surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mandela in America

Mandela is the 119508th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mandela surname appeared 145 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 Mandela.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mandela 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 Mandela

The surname MANDELA has its origins in South Africa and is derived from the Xhosa language, one of the official languages of the country. It is believed to have originated in the Eastern Cape region, where the Xhosa people have historically resided.

The name MANDELA is thought to be a combination of two Xhosa words, "manda" meaning "to be strong" or "to be powerful," and "ela," which refers to a specific clan or family group. This suggests that the surname may have been initially used to identify individuals from a powerful or influential clan or family within the Xhosa community.

Historical records and manuscripts from the 18th and 19th centuries in South Africa mention individuals bearing the surname MANDELA, indicating its long-standing presence among the Xhosa people. Some of the earliest recorded examples include Nkosi Mandela, a prominent Xhosa chief in the late 18th century, and Ngqika Mandela, a Xhosa leader who played a significant role in the Xhosa Wars against colonial forces in the early 19th century.

The name MANDELA gained global recognition in the 20th century with the life and legacy of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (1918-2013), the former President of South Africa and a renowned anti-apartheid activist. His struggle against racial segregation and his efforts towards reconciliation and democracy in South Africa have made him one of the most influential and iconic figures in modern history.

Other notable individuals with the surname MANDELA include:

1. Zindziswa Mandela (1960-2003), the daughter of Nelson Mandela and a renowned activist in her own right, who fought for women's rights and HIV/AIDS awareness.

2. Winnie Madikizela-Mandela (1936-2018), the former wife of Nelson Mandela and a prominent anti-apartheid activist who played a significant role in the struggle for freedom in South Africa.

3. Makgatho Mandela (1925-2005), the eldest son of Nelson Mandela and a traditional leader of the Thembu people in the Eastern Cape region.

4. Lili Mandela (1927-2001), Nelson Mandela's younger sister, who was also involved in the anti-apartheid movement and helped preserve the family's history and traditions.

5. Makaziwe Mandela (born 1954), the eldest daughter of Nelson Mandela and a prominent advocate for women's rights and social issues in South Africa.

While the surname MANDELA has gained global recognition through its association with Nelson Mandela and his family, it remains deeply rooted in the cultural and linguistic traditions of the Xhosa people in South Africa.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mandela

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

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

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

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