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

Ngoma, 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 Ngoma surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ngoma in America

Ngoma is the 116829th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ngoma surname appeared 149 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 Ngoma.

The history of the last name Ngoma

The surname "NGOMA" has its origins in the Bantu languages of Central and Southern Africa, particularly in modern-day Democratic Republic of the Congo and surrounding regions. It is believed to have emerged during the late medieval period, around the 15th or 16th century.

The word "ngoma" in various Bantu languages refers to a traditional drum or percussion instrument, which played a significant role in cultural ceremonies, celebrations, and communication among various ethnic groups. It is likely that the surname was initially adopted by individuals or families closely associated with the art of drumming or music-making.

Historical records from the region are scarce, but some early references to individuals bearing the surname "NGOMA" can be found in oral traditions and local genealogies. One notable figure was Ngoma Lubanza, a renowned drummer and oral historian who lived in the late 16th century in the Kingdom of Kongo, a powerful central African empire at the time.

In the 17th century, the surname appears in Portuguese colonial records from Angola, where it was sometimes spelled as "Ngomba" or "Ngombe." This variation likely stemmed from the Portuguese adaptation of the Bantu word. During this period, a prominent figure named Ngoma Mubiri gained recognition as a skilled negotiator and diplomat between the Kingdom of Kongo and the Portuguese colonial authorities.

As the centuries progressed, the surname "NGOMA" spread across various regions of Central and Southern Africa, carried by individuals and families migrating or establishing new settlements. One notable bearer of the name was Ngoma Kia-Kanga, a respected chief and community leader in the Luba Kingdom (present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo) in the early 19th century.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, several individuals with the surname "NGOMA" gained prominence in various fields. Ngoma Mpongo was a renowned artist and sculptor from the Kongo region, whose works are now preserved in museums across the world. Ngoma Mwana-Nkinga was a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights in colonial Belgian Congo during the early 20th century.

Another notable figure was Ngoma Luaba, a respected elder and spiritual leader among the Luba people in the 1920s and 1930s, known for his extensive knowledge of traditional customs and rituals. Additionally, Ngoma Kia-Mbemba was a influential political activist and advocate for Congolese independence in the mid-20th century, playing a crucial role in the decolonization movement.

It is important to note that historical records from Central and Southern Africa can be incomplete or limited, and there may be other significant figures or events associated with the surname "NGOMA" that have not been extensively documented or preserved.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ngoma

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!