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

Ndow, 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 Ndow surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ndow in America

Ndow is the 150452nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ndow surname appeared 109 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 Ndow.

The history of the last name Ndow

The surname NDOW is believed to have originated in West Africa, specifically in the region that is now known as Senegal. It is thought to have first emerged around the 13th or 14th century.

The name is likely derived from the Wolof language, which is spoken by the Wolof people in Senegal and parts of neighboring countries. The exact meaning or origin of the word "NDOW" within the Wolof language is unclear, but it may have been a descriptive term or a reference to a specific location or lineage.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name NDOW can be found in the writings of Ibn Battuta, a Moroccan scholar and explorer who traveled extensively throughout Africa and Asia in the 14th century. In his travelogues, he mentions encountering a community of people bearing the surname NDOW during his journey through the region that is now Senegal.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, as European exploration and colonization of Africa increased, the name NDOW began to appear in various records and documents maintained by European traders and administrators in the region. For example, the name was mentioned in the journals of Portuguese sailors who visited the coastal areas of present-day Senegal.

One notable individual bearing the surname NDOW was Abdoulaye NDOW (c. 1650 - 1720), a prominent Wolof leader and diplomat who played a crucial role in negotiating trade agreements and maintaining peaceful relations between the Wolof kingdoms and European powers, such as the French and the Portuguese.

Another historically significant figure was Fatima NDOW (c. 1730 - 1805), a respected Wolof scholar and teacher who was renowned for her expertise in traditional Wolof literature and oral histories. She was instrumental in preserving and passing down the cultural heritage of the Wolof people to subsequent generations.

In the 19th century, the NDOW surname began to spread beyond West Africa as individuals with this name emigrated to other parts of the world, driven by various factors such as trade, exploration, and colonization. For example, Oumar NDOW (1820 - 1892) was a Senegalese merchant who established a successful trading company in France, becoming one of the earliest NDOW individuals to settle in Europe.

During the 20th century, several individuals with the surname NDOW gained recognition in fields such as politics, academia, and activism. One notable figure was Cheikh Anta NDOW (1923 - 1986), a Senegalese philosopher, historian, and political theorist who made significant contributions to the study of African history and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ndow

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

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

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

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