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

Mbugua, 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 Mbugua surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mbugua in America

Mbugua is the 38332nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mbugua surname appeared 578 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 Mbugua.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mbugua 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 Mbugua

The surname Mbugua originates from the Kikuyu people of Kenya. It dates back several centuries to the pre-colonial era in East Africa. The name is derived from the Kikuyu language and is thought to have roots in the word "mbugua," which means "a person of wisdom."

The Kikuyu people have a rich oral tradition, and the name Mbugua may have been associated with elders or leaders who were known for their knowledge and guidance. Some historical records suggest that the name was often given to those who played important roles in the community, such as village chiefs or spiritual advisors.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mbugua can be found in the accounts of British explorers and missionaries who visited the region in the late 19th century. These accounts mention individuals with the name Mbugua, although the spelling may have varied due to the challenges of transcribing Kikuyu names into English.

During the colonial period in Kenya, the Mbugua name continued to be used and appeared in various administrative records and documents. Some notable individuals with the surname Mbugua from this time include:

1. Mbiyu wa Mbugua (c. 1860-1930), a respected elder and advisor to the Kikuyu people.
2. Wanjiru Mbugua (1892-1975), a prominent figure in the early Kenyan independence movement.
3. Jomo Mbugua (1905-1988), a renowned teacher and advocate for education in rural communities.

After Kenya gained independence in 1963, the Mbugua name continued to be prevalent, and several individuals with this surname made significant contributions to the country's development. Some examples include:

4. Wangari Maathai (1940-2011), the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for her work in environmental conservation and women's rights.
5. Mugo Mbugua (1948-2021), a celebrated author and playwright who explored Kikuyu culture and traditions in his works.

Throughout its history, the surname Mbugua has been deeply rooted in the Kikuyu culture and has been carried by individuals who have made notable contributions to their communities and the broader Kenyan society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mbugua

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

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

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

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