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

Ngugi, 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 Ngugi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ngugi in America

Ngugi is the 48717th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ngugi surname appeared 433 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 Ngugi.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ngugi 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 Ngugi

The surname NGUGI has its origins in Kenya, East Africa, where it is found amongst the Kikuyu people. The name is believed to have derived from the Kikuyu word "ngugi" which means "storyteller" or "artist". This suggests that the name may have been given to individuals who excelled in the art of storytelling or were skilled in various forms of artistic expression within the Kikuyu community.

The earliest recorded instances of the NGUGI surname can be traced back to the 18th century, though it is likely that the name existed even earlier in oral traditions and records that have not survived to the present day. One notable historical reference to the name can be found in the writings of Johann Ludwig Krapf, a German missionary who lived among the Kikuyu people in the mid-19th century and documented their language and customs.

One of the earliest known individuals to bear the NGUGI surname was Ngugi wa Thiong'o, a renowned Kenyan writer, and scholar who was born in 1938. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential African writers of the 20th century and has made significant contributions to the field of postcolonial literature. His works, such as "Weep Not, Child" and "A Grain of Wheat," have been widely acclaimed and translated into numerous languages.

Another notable figure with the NGUGI surname is Ngũgĩ wa Mirii, a Kikuyu leader, and political activist who played a prominent role in the Mau Mau Uprising against British colonial rule in Kenya during the 1950s. He was born in the late 19th century and became a symbol of resistance against colonial oppression.

In the realm of academics, Micere Githae Mugo, a Kenyan scholar, and writer born in 1942, has made significant contributions to the fields of African literature, feminism, and postcolonial studies. Her works, such as "The Trial of Dedan Kimathi" and "Daughters of Mungo," have been widely acclaimed and studied.

Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o, a Kenyan writer, and academic born in 1950, is another prominent figure with the NGUGI surname. He is known for his literary works, such as "Devil on the Cross" and "Petals of Blood," which explore themes of social injustice, cultural identity, and the effects of colonialism.

Finally, Ngugi Wa Kabiro, a Kenyan politician, and environmentalist born in the early 20th century, is also noteworthy. He played a crucial role in the environmental conservation efforts in Kenya and was instrumental in the establishment of the Aberdare National Park.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ngugi

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

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

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

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