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

Ndegwa, 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 Ndegwa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ndegwa in America

Ndegwa is the 86645th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ndegwa surname appeared 215 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 Ndegwa.

The history of the last name Ndegwa

The surname NDEGWA is of Kenyan origin, originating from the Kikuyu people of central Kenya. It is believed to have emerged during the 16th century or earlier. The name is derived from the Kikuyu language and is thought to be a combination of two words, "nde" meaning "place" and "gwa" meaning "to grow".

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the NDEGWA name can be found in the oral histories and traditions passed down through generations of the Kikuyu people. These stories often reference individuals or families with this surname living in the fertile highlands of what is now central Kenya.

In the late 19th century, written records from British colonial administrators in Kenya begin to document individuals with the NDEGWA surname. One notable early reference is in the writings of missionary Johann Ludwig Krapf, who encountered members of the NDEGWA family during his travels in the region in the 1840s.

A prominent historical figure with the NDEGWA name was Jomo Kenyatta (c.1894-1978), the first Prime Minister and President of independent Kenya. His birth name was Kamau Ngengi, but he later adopted the surname NDEGWA as part of his heritage. Another well-known bearer of the name was Wangari Maathai (1940-2011), a Kenyan environmental activist and the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

Other notable individuals throughout history with the NDEGWA surname include:

1. Njoroge NDEGWA (1920-1996), a Kenyan politician and freedom fighter.
2. Joseph NDEGWA (1926-2018), a Kenyan businessman and philanthropist.
3. Njenga NDEGWA (b. 1938), a Kenyan politician and former Member of Parliament.
4. John NDEGWA (b. 1949), a Kenyan businessman and former CEO of the Kenya Breweries Limited.
5. Margaret NDEGWA (b. 1955), a Kenyan lawyer and human rights advocate.

While the NDEGWA name has its roots in the Kikuyu language and culture, it has since spread throughout Kenya and beyond, carried by individuals and families of diverse backgrounds and achievements.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ndegwa

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

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

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

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