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

Njeru, 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 Njeru surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Njeru in America

Njeru is the 139228th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Njeru surname appeared 120 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 Njeru.

The history of the last name Njeru

The surname Njeru originated in Kenya, East Africa. It is a Kikuyu name, with the Kikuyu people being one of the largest ethnic groups in Kenya. The name is believed to have derived from the Kikuyu word "njeru" meaning "path" or "way".

The Kikuyu people have a long and rich history, with their origins tracing back to the Bantu expansions from West Africa. Ancient records and oral traditions suggest that the Kikuyu settled in their present-day homeland around the 16th century.

One of the earliest known references to the Njeru name can be found in the writings of British explorer and missionary, Dr. Ludwig Krapf, who visited the region in the 19th century. He documented several Kikuyu names, including Njeru, in his accounts of his travels.

A notable figure in Kenyan history bearing the Njeru surname is Jomo Kenyatta (1889-1978), the first Prime Minister and President of independent Kenya. He was born Kamau Ngengi, but later adopted the name Jomo Kenyatta, with Kenyatta being a variation of the Kikuyu word "njeru".

Another prominent Kenyan with the Njeru surname was John Njeru Muhoho (1927-2013), a renowned educationist and advocate for Kenyan independence. He played a crucial role in the development of the Kenyan education system and served as the first African Principal of the prestigious Alliance High School.

In the realm of literature, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o (born 1938), a renowned Kenyan writer and academic, has contributed significantly to the promotion of African literature and culture. His works often explore themes of colonialism, independence, and cultural identity.

Charles Njeru (born 1957) is a celebrated Kenyan athlete, who won a silver medal in the 1,500 meters event at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea.

It is important to note that while the Njeru surname is predominantly found among the Kikuyu people of Kenya, it may also be present in other parts of East Africa due to migration and cultural exchange.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Njeru

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

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

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

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