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

Ngigi, 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 Ngigi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ngigi in America

Ngigi is the 134712th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ngigi surname appeared 125 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 Ngigi.

The history of the last name Ngigi

The surname NGIGI has its origins in Kenya, traced back to the 17th century. It is believed to have originated from the Kikuyu tribe, one of the largest ethnic groups in the country. The name is derived from the Kikuyu word "ngigi," which means "young antelope" or "deer."

In the early days, the Kikuyu people often took on surnames that were inspired by nature, animals, or physical attributes. The name NGIGI may have been given to individuals who demonstrated agility, speed, or grace, characteristics associated with the young antelope.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name NGIGI can be found in the writings of Johann Ludwig Krapf, a German missionary who lived among the Kikuyu people in the mid-19th century. In his journals, Krapf mentioned encountering individuals with the surname NGIGI during his travels in central Kenya.

Notable individuals with the surname NGIGI include Jomo Kenyatta (1891-1978), the first Prime Minister and President of independent Kenya. Kenyatta, born as Kamau Ngengi, later adopted the surname Kenyatta, which means "bright and burning light" in Kikuyu. His early life and political activism were instrumental in Kenya's struggle for independence from British colonial rule.

Another prominent figure was Wangari Maathai (1940-2011), a Kenyan environmental and political activist. She was the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 for her contributions to sustainable development, democracy, and peace. Maathai's maiden name was Ngigi, and she hailed from the Kikuyu community.

In the realm of sports, Philip Ngigi Kiruru (born 1971) is a former Kenyan long-distance runner who specialized in marathon events. He won the Rotterdam Marathon in 1997 and has represented Kenya in numerous international competitions.

The name NGIGI has also been associated with various geographical locations in Kenya. For instance, Ngigi Town is a settlement in Kiambu County, located in the central region of the country, known for its agricultural activities and proximity to Nairobi.

While the surname NGIGI has its roots in Kenya's Kikuyu community, it has gained recognition beyond its cultural boundaries and has been embraced by individuals of diverse backgrounds, reflecting the rich tapestry of Kenyan society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ngigi

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

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

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

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