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

Mungai, 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 Mungai surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mungai in America

Mungai is the 45026th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mungai surname appeared 476 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 Mungai.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mungai 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 Mungai

The surname MUNGAI originates from Kenya and is a Kikuyu name. It is believed to have derived from the root word "mûngai" which means "many" or "abundance" in the Kikuyu language. This suggests that the name was initially given to individuals or families who were blessed with many children or a large household.

The Kikuyu people are an ethnic group native to Central Kenya, primarily concentrated in the former Central Province. They have a rich cultural heritage, and their naming traditions often reflect values, beliefs, and life events. The MUNGAI surname can be traced back to the pre-colonial era in Kenya, although specific records from that time are scarce.

One of the earliest documented mentions of the MUNGAI surname can be found in the writings of British explorers and missionaries who visited the region in the late 19th century. These accounts provide insights into the Kikuyu culture and may have recorded some individuals with this surname.

Notable individuals bearing the MUNGAI surname include Jomo Kenyatta (1891-1978), the first Prime Minister and President of independent Kenya. Although his birth name was Kamau wa Ngengi, he later adopted the name Jomo Kenyatta, which means "burning spear" in Kikuyu. His contributions to Kenya's struggle for independence and nation-building efforts are widely recognized.

Another prominent figure is Mbiyu Koinange (1907-1981), a prominent Kenyan politician and one of the founders of the Kenya African National Union (KANU). He played a crucial role in the fight for Kenya's independence and served as a member of the Legislative Council and the first cabinet after independence.

In the academic realm, Wangari Maathai (1940-2011), a Kenyan environmental and political activist, stands out. She was the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 for her contributions to sustainable development, democracy, and peace. Her work in promoting environmental conservation and empowering women through the Green Belt Movement was globally recognized.

In the field of sports, Charles Mungai Njonjo (born 1933) was a long-distance runner who represented Kenya in various international competitions, including the Commonwealth Games and the Olympic Games in the 1960s and 1970s.

The MUNGAI surname has also been associated with various place names in Kenya, particularly in the Central region, where the Kikuyu community is predominant. Some examples include Mungai Village, Mungai Estate, and Mungai Hill, among others.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mungai

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

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

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

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