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

Mbah, 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 Mbah surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mbah in America

Mbah is the 56588th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mbah surname appeared 361 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 Mbah.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mbah 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 Mbah

The surname MBAH originates from the West African country of Cameroon, dating back to the late 17th century. It is believed to have derived from the Bakundu language spoken by the Oroko people in the Ndian region of Cameroon. The name may have roots in the Bakundu word "mbah," which means "wise one" or "elder."

In the early 18th century, records show the name MBAH appearing in local village registers and census documents in the Ndian region. Some of the earliest recorded instances include Mbah Ngonde (born around 1705) and Mbah Ekoko (born around 1718), both from the village of Dikome Balue.

The name MBAH is also associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such figure is Mbah Akwa (1825-1904), a respected Oroko chief and traditional healer who played a significant role in mediating disputes between local communities and European colonial powers in the late 19th century.

Another prominent bearer of the name was Mbah Njoki (1880-1962), a renowned storyteller and oral historian from the village of Dikome Balondo. His tales and recitations of Oroko folklore and traditions were instrumental in preserving the culture and heritage of his people.

In the early 20th century, the name MBAH gained recognition beyond the Ndian region with the rise of Mbah Ndongo (1905-1987), a successful businessman and community leader who established trade routes and fostered economic development in Cameroon.

Further records from the mid-20th century show the name MBAH appearing in various administrative documents and records, such as land deeds and tax registers, indicating the surname's continued presence and significance in the region.

It is worth noting that variations in spelling, such as "Mba" or "Mbaa," may have existed in different localities or time periods, reflecting the phonetic and linguistic diversity of the Oroko people and their dialects.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mbah

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

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

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

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