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

Nkrumah, 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 Nkrumah surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nkrumah in America

Nkrumah is the 53072nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nkrumah surname appeared 390 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 Nkrumah.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nkrumah 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 Nkrumah

The surname Nkrumah originates from Ghana, a country located in West Africa. It is believed to have its roots in the Akan language, which is spoken by several ethnic groups in Ghana, including the Ashanti people. The name Nkrumah is derived from the Akan word "nkra," which means "earth" or "land," and "mah," which means "to give birth to" or "to originate from." Therefore, Nkrumah can be interpreted as "born of the earth" or "originating from the land."

Historical records indicate that the name Nkrumah has been in use since the 15th century when the Ashanti Kingdom was established. It was commonly associated with the ruling class and members of the royal family. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Nkrumah can be found in the oral traditions and folklores of the Ashanti people, where it is mentioned in connection with various chiefs and leaders.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Nkrumah is Kwame Nkrumah (1909-1972), who was the first Prime Minister and President of Ghana after the country gained independence from British rule in 1957. He played a crucial role in the decolonization of Africa and was a prominent advocate for Pan-Africanism. Nkrumah's vision and leadership significantly influenced the course of Ghana's history and inspired other African nations in their struggle for freedom.

Another notable figure with the name Nkrumah is Gamal Abdel Nasser (1918-1970), the second President of Egypt. Although not of Ghanaian descent, he adopted the surname Nkrumah as a tribute to Kwame Nkrumah and the Pan-African movement. This gesture highlighted the strong bond and solidarity between the two leaders in their fight against colonialism and their shared vision for a united Africa.

In the realm of literature, Ayi Kwei Armah (born 1939) is a renowned Ghanaian novelist and writer who has used his works to explore themes of African identity, colonialism, and post-colonial struggles. His surname, Armah, is sometimes spelled as Nkrumah in certain publications, reflecting the fluidity and variations in spelling that can occur with traditional African names.

Another notable figure bearing the Nkrumah surname is Samia Nkrumah (born 1974), the daughter of Kwame Nkrumah. She has been actively involved in Ghanaian politics and served as the Chairperson of the Convention People's Party, the party founded by her father.

The name Nkrumah has also been associated with various place names in Ghana, particularly in the Ashanti Region, where it is believed to have originated. For example, the town of Nkrumah is located in the Atwima Kwanwoma District of the Ashanti Region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nkrumah

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

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

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

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