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

Mazaba, 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 Mazaba surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mazaba in America

Mazaba is the 130610th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mazaba surname appeared 130 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 Mazaba.

The history of the last name Mazaba

The surname MAZABA has its origins in the West African region, specifically in present-day Nigeria. It can be traced back to the 15th century, during the height of the powerful Benin Empire. The name is believed to be derived from the Edo language, which was widely spoken in the region at that time. One possible interpretation suggests that MAZABA is a compound word, with "ma" meaning "mother" and "zaba" meaning "great," implying a connection to a great or revered matriarchal figure.

Early records of the name MAZABA can be found in historical documents from the Benin Empire, particularly in accounts of trade and diplomatic interactions with neighboring kingdoms and European explorers. It is mentioned in a few Portuguese manuscripts from the late 15th century, when the Portuguese established trading posts along the West African coast.

One of the earliest known bearers of the MAZABA surname was Oba Ewuare, who ruled the Benin Empire from 1440 to 1473. He is credited with expanding the empire's territories and strengthening its military prowess. While the name MAZABA itself is not directly associated with him, it is possible that some of his descendants or subjects adopted the name during or after his reign.

In the 17th century, the name MAZABA appeared in Dutch records related to the Dutch West India Company's activities in the region. A notable figure from this period was Akenzua I, who ruled the Benin Empire from 1713 to 1740. While his direct connection to the MAZABA surname is uncertain, his reign coincided with a period of cultural and artistic flourishing in the empire.

Moving forward to the 19th century, there are records of individuals with the MAZABA surname serving as intermediaries and interpreters during the British colonial administration in Nigeria. One such figure was Osagie MAZABA, who lived from 1832 to 1901 and worked closely with British officials, facilitating communication and cultural exchange between the colonial authorities and local populations.

Another prominent individual with the MAZABA surname was Oba Ovonramwen, who ruled the Benin Empire from 1888 to 1897. Although his direct lineage and connection to the MAZABA name are unclear, his reign was marked by the infamous Punitive Expedition of 1897, which led to the destruction of the city of Benin by British forces and the looting of valuable cultural artifacts, many of which ended up in museums across Europe and beyond.

It is worth noting that variations in spelling and pronunciation of the MAZABA surname likely existed throughout history due to regional dialects, transcription errors, and the influence of other languages. However, the core meaning and connection to the West African region, particularly the former Benin Empire, remain consistent.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mazaba

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

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

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

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