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

Mogaka, 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 Mogaka surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mogaka in America

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

The Mogaka 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 Mogaka.

The history of the last name Mogaka

The surname Mogaka has its origins in Kenya, where it is believed to have emerged in the late 17th or early 18th century. It is a name that is closely associated with the Gusii ethnic group, which is concentrated in the southwestern region of the country, particularly in the present-day Kisii and Nyamira counties.

Linguists suggest that the name Mogaka may have its roots in the Gusii language, where it could be derived from the words "mog" and "aka," which are believed to have meant "clan" and "place," respectively. This lends credence to the notion that Mogaka may have initially referred to a specific clan or family group residing in a particular location within the Gusii homeland.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Mogaka can be traced back to the late 18th century, where it appears in various oral histories and genealogical records maintained by the Gusii elders. One notable figure from this period was Mogaka Nyangura, a respected elder and mediator who played a pivotal role in resolving disputes between neighboring clans in the latter half of the 18th century.

As the Gusii community continued to grow and expand, the name Mogaka spread across the region, with different branches of the family adopting slight variations in spelling or pronunciation. In the 19th century, several individuals bearing this surname gained prominence, including Mogaka Mori (1815-1892), a renowned farmer and cattle breeder, and Mogaka Nyakundi (1830-1905), a skilled hunter and warrior.

The early 20th century saw the rise of Mogaka Nyandiko (1885-1968), a respected teacher and community leader who played a significant role in the establishment of some of the first schools in the Gusii region. His work in promoting education and preserving Gusii cultural traditions earned him widespread recognition and respect.

Another notable figure from this period was Mogaka Nyamweya (1910-1982), a prominent politician who served as a member of the Kenya African Union (KAU) and later as a member of the first post-independence parliament in Kenya. His contributions to the country's struggle for independence and his advocacy for the rights of the Gusii people solidified his place in Kenyan history.

While the name Mogaka continues to be predominantly associated with the Gusii community, it has also gained recognition in other parts of Kenya and beyond, with individuals bearing this surname making their mark in various fields, including academia, business, politics, and the arts.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mogaka

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

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

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

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