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

Mwangi, 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 Mwangi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mwangi in America

Mwangi is the 16968th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mwangi surname appeared 1,675 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Mwangi.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mwangi 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 Mwangi

The surname Mwangi originates from Kenya, particularly among the Kikuyu people. It is a Bantu name derived from the word "mwana," meaning "child" or "son." The name likely emerged during the late medieval or early modern period, around the 16th or 17th century.

Mwangi was originally a patronymic name, indicating the lineage or family connection of an individual. It was a way to identify someone as the child or descendant of a particular person or clan. The name may have been used to distinguish different branches or lineages within the Kikuyu community.

While there are no known historical references to the name in ancient manuscripts or records, it is deeply rooted in the oral traditions and cultural history of the Kikuyu people. The earliest recorded examples of the name likely date back to the 19th century, when colonial administrators and missionaries began documenting names and genealogies in written form.

One notable bearer of the name Mwangi was Jomo Kenyatta (1894-1978), the first Prime Minister and President of independent Kenya. Kenyatta was a prominent figure in the struggle for Kenyan independence and played a pivotal role in the country's transition to self-governance.

Another significant individual with the surname Mwangi was Wangari Maathai (1940-2011), a Kenyan environmental and political activist. Maathai was the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, in recognition of her efforts to promote sustainable development, democracy, and environmental conservation through the Green Belt Movement.

Other notable individuals with the surname Mwangi include Ngugi wa Thiong'o (born 1938), a renowned Kenyan writer and academic, known for his works that explore themes of colonialism, post-colonialism, and social justice. Thiong'o has been a prominent figure in the field of postcolonial literature and has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions.

In the realm of sports, Henry Wanyoike Mwangi (born 1952) was a Kenyan long-distance runner who won the bronze medal in the 3000-meter steeplechase at the 1972 Munich Olympics. He was a pioneering figure in Kenyan athletics and helped pave the way for the country's success in long-distance running.

Lastly, Njoroge Mwangi (born 1959) is a Kenyan author and journalist known for his works exploring issues of social justice, corruption, and political dynamics in Kenya. His novels and non-fiction works have garnered critical acclaim and have shed light on important aspects of Kenyan society and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mwangi

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

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

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

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