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

Mukendi, 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 Mukendi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mukendi in America

Mukendi is the 120901st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mukendi surname appeared 143 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 Mukendi.

The history of the last name Mukendi

The surname MUKENDI is of Bantu origin, originating from various ethnic groups found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Angola, and other parts of central and southern Africa. The name is thought to have roots in the late 15th or early 16th century, when the region was populated by various Bantu-speaking tribes and kingdoms.

The MUKENDI name is likely derived from the Kikongo language, which is spoken by the Bakongo people of western DRC, Angola, and neighboring areas. The name may be related to words or phrases referring to concepts such as strength, resilience, or leadership within the community.

Some of the earliest known references to individuals bearing the MUKENDI surname can be found in Portuguese colonial records from the 16th and 17th centuries, when Angola and parts of the Congo region were under Portuguese control. These records often documented local leaders, traders, and other prominent figures within the indigenous communities.

One notable historical figure with the MUKENDI surname was Nzinga Mukendi, a 17th-century ruler of the Ndongo and Matamba kingdoms in modern-day Angola. She is remembered for her military prowess and resistance against Portuguese colonization efforts.

Another individual of note was Mwene Mukendi, a 19th-century chief and leader of the Bakongo people in the Bas-Congo region of what is now western DRC. He played a significant role in negotiating trade agreements and maintaining diplomatic relations with European powers during the colonial era.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the MUKENDI surname also appeared in missionary records and colonial administrative documents from various parts of central Africa, reflecting the widespread distribution of the name across the region.

Other notable individuals with the MUKENDI surname include:

1. Ntumba Mukendi (1914-1988), a Congolese politician and diplomat who served as the first Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo after gaining independence from Belgium in 1960.

2. Didi Mukendi (born 1956), a Congolese singer and musician known for his contributions to the Soukous and Rumba genres of African music.

3. Pauline Mukendi (born 1982), a Congolese-Canadian activist and advocate for women's rights and social justice, particularly in the context of the ongoing conflict in the DRC.

4. Tshala Mukendi (1936-1998), a Congolese writer, poet, and academic who played a significant role in preserving and promoting the Kikongo language and culture.

5. Mukendi Nkashama (born 1942), a Congolese novelist, playwright, and literary critic, whose works have explored themes of identity, colonialism, and sociopolitical issues in Africa.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mukendi

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

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

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

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