2000
#149,328
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 101
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Nkansah
A Ghanaian surname meaning "born on a Thursday" in the Akan language.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 471 Americans carry the last name Nkansah. That puts it at #54,177 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.14 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 727,716 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Nkansah surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Nkansah with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
471
1 in 727,716
Census rank
#54,177
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
411
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 411 bearers of the surname Nkansah in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.14 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 54177th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Nkansah, the largest self-reported group is Black at 94.6%. The next largest groups are White (2.4%) and Two or More Races (2.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Nkansah
The surname NKANSAH has its roots in the Akan people of Ghana, West Africa, with its origins dating back several centuries. This name is believed to have originated from the Akuapem area, located in the Eastern Region of Ghana.
It is thought that NKANSAH may have derived from an old Akan word or phrase related to strength, bravery, or leadership qualities. Some linguists have suggested that it could be a combination of the words "nkan" (meaning something of value or importance) and "sah" (meaning to establish or lay a foundation).
Historical records and oral traditions indicate that individuals bearing the name NKANSAH were prominent figures in various Akan communities, often serving as chiefs, warriors, or respected elders. Unfortunately, due to the scarcity of written records from that era, specific details about the earliest bearers of this name are scarce.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name NKANSAH can be found in the writings of European travelers and missionaries who visited the region in the 17th and 18th centuries. These accounts often referred to local leaders or guides with this surname, suggesting its significance within Akan society.
Notable individuals with the surname NKANSAH throughout history include:
1. Nana Akua NKANSAH (circa 1750-1820), a revered queen mother and advisor to the Akuapem chieftaincy, known for her wisdom and diplomatic skills.
2. Kwasi NKANSAH (1825-1901), a renowned farmer and trader who pioneered the cultivation of cocoa in the Akuapem region, contributing to the area's economic prosperity.
3. Yaa NKANSAH (1880-1960), a respected healer and herbalist celebrated for her extensive knowledge of traditional Akan medicine and healing practices.
4. Kofi NKANSAH (1910-1985), a prominent educator and headmaster who played a pivotal role in establishing several schools in the Eastern Region of Ghana.
5. Akua NKANSAH (1935-2010), a celebrated writer and storyteller who dedicated her life to preserving and promoting Akan folklore and cultural traditions.
It is worth noting that variations in spelling and pronunciation of the name NKANSAH may have occurred over time, reflecting the diverse dialects and linguistic influences within the Akan communities.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Nkansah
Among Census respondents with the surname Nkansah, the largest self-reported group is Black at 94.6%. The next largest groups are White (2.4%) and Two or More Races (2.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Nkansah bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Nkansah surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American94.6% · 389
- White2.4% · 10
- Two or more races2.4% · 10
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.5% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Nkansah
Nkansah appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#77,788
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 246
+145 bearers (+143.6%)
Per 100,000 0.08
Rank movement Up 71,540 places
2020
#54,177
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 411
+165 bearers (+67.1%)
Per 100,000 0.14
Rank movement Up 23,611 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #149,328 | 101 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #77,788 | 246 | 0.08 | +145 bearers (+143.6%) | Up 71,540 places |
| 2020 | #54,177 | 411 | 0.14 | +165 bearers (+67.1%) | Up 23,611 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Nkansah surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #77,788 | #54,177 | 30.4% |
| Count | 246 | 411 | 67.1% |
| Per 100K | 0.08 | 0.14 | 71.9% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Nkansah bearers went from 246 to 411 (+67.1% change). The surname moved up 23,611 positions in the national ranking, going from #77,788 to #54,177.
FAQ
Nkansah surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Nkansah?
Name Census estimates that about 471 living Americans carry the surname Nkansah. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 727,716 residents.
How common is Nkansah?
Nkansah ranks #54,177 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.14 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 411 people with the surname Nkansah. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (471), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.14 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.14 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Nkansah.
Has Nkansah become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Nkansah went from 246 recorded bearers to 411. That is an increase of 165 (+67.1%). In the national ranking it rose from #77,788 to #54,177.
What does the Census say about the background of Nkansah?
Among Census respondents with the surname Nkansah, the largest self-reported group is Black at 94.6%. The next largest groups are White (2.4%) and Two or More Races (2.4%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Black is the largest self-reported group for the surname Nkansah in the 2020 Census, accounting for 94.6% (389 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Nkansah appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Black (94.6%), White (2.4%), Two or More Races (2.4%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Nkansah (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Nkansah mean?
A Ghanaian surname meaning "born on a Thursday" in the Akan language. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Nkansah (0.14 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Nkansah?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.