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

Njuguna, 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 Njuguna surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Njuguna in America

Njuguna is the 35395th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Njuguna surname appeared 636 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 Njuguna.

We can also compare 2010 data for Njuguna 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 Njuguna

The surname NJUGUNA is of Kenyan origin, specifically from the Kikuyu tribe. It is believed to have originated in the late 18th or early 19th century, deriving from the Kikuyu word 'njuguna,' which means 'one who travels far and wide.'

The name is thought to have been given to individuals or families who were known for their wanderlust and adventurous spirit, often traveling long distances for trade, exploration, or in search of new opportunities. The Kikuyu people have a rich oral tradition, and it is likely that the earliest records of this surname were passed down through storytelling and oral histories.

One of the earliest known references to the name NJUGUNA can be found in the writings of Johann Ludwig Krapf, a German missionary who lived and worked among the Kikuyu people in the mid-19th century. In his journals, Krapf mentions encountering individuals with this surname, indicating its prevalence in the region during that time.

Notable individuals throughout history who bore the surname NJUGUNA include Jomo Kenyatta (1894-1978), the first Prime Minister and later President of independent Kenya. Kenyatta was a prominent figure in the Kenyan independence movement and played a crucial role in the country's transition to self-governance.

Another significant figure was Ngugi wa Thiong'o (born 1938), a renowned Kenyan writer, academic, and social activist. Ngugi has been a leading voice in postcolonial literature and has written extensively on issues of language, culture, and identity.

Wangari Maathai (1940-2011), an environmental and political activist, was the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 for her contributions to sustainable development, democracy, and peace.

In the world of athletics, Henry Rono (born 1952) was a legendary Kenyan middle and long-distance runner, holding multiple world records in the 1970s and 1980s. He is considered one of the greatest distance runners of all time.

Lastly, Raila Odinga (born 1945) is a prominent Kenyan politician and former Prime Minister, known for his long-standing involvement in the country's political landscape and his advocacy for democratic reforms.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Njuguna

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

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

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

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