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

Matovu, 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 Matovu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Matovu in America

Matovu is the 135593rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Matovu surname appeared 124 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 Matovu.

The history of the last name Matovu

The surname Matovu has its origins in Uganda, a country located in East Africa. It is believed to have originated in the early 19th century, derived from the Luganda language spoken by the Baganda people.

In Luganda, the word "matovu" is said to mean "the wealthy one" or "the prosperous one." This suggests that the name may have been initially bestowed upon individuals or families who held considerable wealth or status within their communities.

Historical records from the region indicate that the Matovu surname first appeared in written documents during the reign of Kabaka (King) Suna II, who ruled the Buganda Kingdom from 1824 to 1856. Several notable figures bearing the name Matovu are mentioned in these records, including Matovu Mukasa, a prominent chief and advisor to the king.

During the late 19th century, as the influence of the British Empire spread across Uganda, the Matovu surname began to appear in colonial administrative records and census documents. One significant figure from this period was John Matovu (1865-1925), a prominent Protestant missionary and teacher who played a vital role in establishing Christian education in Uganda.

In the early 20th century, the Matovu name gained further recognition with the birth of Yozefu Matovu (1910-1987), a renowned Ugandan composer and musician who contributed significantly to the development of traditional Kiganda music.

Another notable individual with the surname Matovu was Sarah Matovu (1920-2003), a pioneering Ugandan politician and women's rights activist. She was the first woman to be elected to the National Assembly of Uganda in 1962 and played a pivotal role in advocating for women's empowerment and gender equality.

More recently, the Matovu surname has been associated with prominent figures such as Emmanuel Matovu (born 1962), a Ugandan economist and former Executive Director of the African Development Bank Group.

Throughout its history, the Matovu surname has maintained a strong connection to its Luganda roots and the cultural heritage of the Baganda people. While its origins can be traced back to the early 19th century, the name continues to be widely used and respected in Uganda and among Ugandan communities around the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Matovu

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

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 Matovu 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.

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

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

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