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

Maravi, 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 Maravi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Maravi in America

Maravi is the 105079th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Maravi surname appeared 170 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 Maravi.

We can also compare 2010 data for Maravi 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 Maravi

The surname Maravi is believed to have originated from the Maravi Kingdom, an ancient empire that once spanned parts of modern-day Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia. This name traces its roots back to the 16th century and is thought to be derived from the Chewa language, spoken by the Maravi people who inhabited the region.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Maravi surname can be found in the writings of Portuguese explorer Gaspar Bocarro, who documented his travels through the region in the early 1600s. Bocarro's accounts provide valuable insights into the Maravi Kingdom and its people, including references to individuals bearing the Maravi name.

In the 17th century, the Maravi surname appeared in various historical records and manuscripts, particularly those related to the Portuguese colonization of the region. One notable example is the memoir of Jesuit missionary Manuel Antunes, who worked among the Maravi people and documented their customs and way of life.

The earliest recorded individual with the Maravi surname was likely Kalonga Marambo, a influential ruler of the Maravi Kingdom in the late 16th century. Other notable figures throughout history include Kalonga Chisumphi, a powerful Maravi chief in the 17th century, and Kalonga Zulu, a revered leader who helped preserve the Maravi culture and traditions.

In the 19th century, the Maravi surname gained prominence with the rise of Maravi resistance against Portuguese and British colonial rule. Figures like Katunga Maravi and Mwene Maravi played crucial roles in the fight for independence and the preservation of their cultural heritage.

Another noteworthy individual with the Maravi surname was Levi Zeleza Maravi, a renowned historian and scholar who dedicated his life to studying and documenting the history of the Maravi people. His works, published in the late 20th century, shed light on the rich cultural traditions and historical significance of the Maravi Kingdom.

While the Maravi surname has its roots in the ancient Maravi Kingdom, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and cultural exchange. However, its origins remain deeply rooted in the history and traditions of the Maravi people, serving as a testament to their enduring legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Maravi

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

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

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

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