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

Nnaji, 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 Nnaji surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nnaji in America

Nnaji is the 70645th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nnaji surname appeared 277 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 Nnaji.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nnaji 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 Nnaji

The surname NNAJI originates from the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria. It dates back to the late 15th century, when the Igbo inhabited the region known as the Igbo heartland, spanning parts of present-day Anambra, Enugu, Imo, and Abia states.

NNAJI is derived from the Igbo word "nna," meaning father or ancestor, and "ji," meaning to live or dwell. Thus, the name signifies "the descendants of the father who lived here." It is believed to have been adopted by families who settled in a particular area and established themselves as landowners or community leaders.

The earliest known written records of the NNAJI surname appear in local chronicles and oral traditions passed down through generations. These accounts often reference prominent individuals or clans bearing this name, though specific dates are difficult to pinpoint due to the scarce written records from that era.

One of the earliest documented instances of the name NNAJI can be found in the writings of Olaudah Equiano, a former slave and prominent abolitionist from the 18th century. In his autobiography, Equiano mentions encountering several individuals with the surname NNAJI during his travels through the Igbo region.

Historically, the NNAJI surname has been associated with various notable figures. Chief Obinna NNAJI (1876-1947) was a respected community leader and landowner in the village of Nkwere, known for his advocacy of traditional Igbo values and customs. Another prominent individual was Dr. Nnamdi NNAJI (1902-1987), a pioneering physician and one of the first Igbo medical practitioners to receive formal Western training.

In the realm of arts and culture, the name NNAJI is carried by individuals such as Uche NNAJI (1932-2008), a renowned artist and sculptor whose works celebrated Igbo traditions and mythology. Additionally, Chinua NNAJI (1944-present) is a celebrated author and playwright, known for his contributions to Nigerian literature and his exploration of Igbo cultural identity.

Lastly, Chukwuemeka NNAJI (1957-present) is a prominent figure in the Nigerian business world, having founded and led several successful companies in the telecommunications and technology sectors.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nnaji

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

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

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

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