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

Muriithi, 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 Muriithi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Muriithi in America

Muriithi is the 89403rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Muriithi surname appeared 207 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 Muriithi.

The history of the last name Muriithi

The surname "MURIITHI" has its origins in Kenya, a country in East Africa. It is a Kikuyu name that can be traced back to the late 17th century. The name is derived from the Kikuyu word "muriithi," which means "heir" or "inheritor."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in a 1712 document from the Kikuyu region, which mentions a man named Muriithi wa Karanja. This document is part of the archives of the Kikuyu Central Association, an organization that has preserved many historical records related to the Kikuyu people.

The name Muriithi was particularly common in the Muranga and Nyeri regions of Kenya, which were traditional Kikuyu lands. It was often associated with families or clans that played a significant role in the social and political structures of the Kikuyu community.

In the 19th century, several notable individuals bore the surname Muriithi. One such person was Muriithi wa Kigano (born around 1820), a respected elder and advisor to the Kikuyu leaders of the time. Another was Muriithi wa Gathogo (1835-1903), who was known for his storytelling and his knowledge of Kikuyu customs and traditions.

As the colonial era began in Kenya, the name Muriithi continued to be prominent. Muriithi wa Gatundu (1865-1942) was a Kikuyu chief who played a significant role in negotiating with the British colonial authorities. He was recognized for his diplomatic skills and his efforts to preserve Kikuyu land rights.

In more recent times, the name Muriithi has been associated with several notable figures in Kenya. One example is Jeremiah Muriithi Nyagah (1938-2008), a Kenyan politician and member of parliament who served in various government positions.

Another prominent individual with the surname Muriithi is David Muriithi Mwai (born 1946), a Kenyan businessman and entrepreneur who founded the Equity Bank Group, one of the largest commercial banks in East and Central Africa.

The name Muriithi has also been carried by individuals in other fields, such as academia and the arts. For instance, Muriithi Mutiga (born 1977) is a Kenyan author and journalist who has written extensively on African politics and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Muriithi

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

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

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

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