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

Ndungu, 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 Ndungu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ndungu in America

Ndungu is the 43969th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ndungu surname appeared 490 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 Ndungu.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ndungu 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 Ndungu

The surname NDUNGU originates from Kenya in East Africa, with its roots dating back to the 17th century. It is derived from the Kikuyu language, one of the primary Bantu languages spoken in the region. The name is closely associated with the Kikuyu people, an ethnic group native to the fertile highlands of central Kenya.

NDUNGU is believed to have originated from the Kikuyu word "ndungu," which means "woven mat" or "place of weaving." This likely refers to the traditional art of weaving mats, a skill that was highly valued and practiced by the Kikuyu community. The name may have been given to individuals or families who excelled in this craft or resided in areas where mat weaving was a prominent activity.

One of the earliest documented references to the name NDUNGU can be found in the records of the Kenyan Land Commission, which was established in the late 19th century during the British colonial era. These records mention several individuals bearing the surname, indicating its presence in the region at that time.

Notable individuals with the surname NDUNGU include Jomo NDUNGU (1900-1978), a prominent Kenyan politician and independence activist who played a crucial role in the struggle for Kenya's liberation from British colonial rule. Another notable figure is Wangari Maathai (1940-2011), the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 for her environmental conservation efforts, including the Green Belt Movement. Although her surname was Mathai, her father's name was Ndungu Njuguna.

In the literary realm, Ngugi wa Thiong'o (born 1938), a renowned Kenyan writer and academic, has made significant contributions to African literature. His earlier works were published under the name James Ngugi, but he later adopted the name Ngugi wa Thiong'o, which includes the NDUNGU element.

Other notable individuals bearing the surname include David Ndungu Macharia (born 1953), a Kenyan entrepreneur and co-founder of the Equity Group Holdings Limited, one of the largest financial services conglomerates in East and Central Africa, and Naftali Temu NDUNGU (1934-2021), a Kenyan politician and former member of parliament.

While the surname NDUNGU has its roots in the Kikuyu culture and language, it has gained recognition beyond Kenya's borders, particularly among the Kenyan diaspora communities around the world. Its historical significance and connection to the rich cultural heritage of the Kikuyu people make it a celebrated surname in Kenya and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ndungu

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

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

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

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