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

Nortey, 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 Nortey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nortey in America

Nortey is the 77522nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nortey surname appeared 247 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 Nortey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nortey 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 Nortey

The surname Nortey is of Ghanaian origin, with its roots traced back to the Ga people, an ethnic group found in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. The name is believed to have emerged during the 16th century.

The name Nortey is derived from the Ga word "nortey," which means "one who is truthful" or "one who speaks the truth." This name was likely given to individuals who were known for their honesty and integrity within their communities.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname Nortey can be found in the records of the Dutch East India Company, which had established trading posts along the coast of Ghana in the 17th century. These records often listed the names of local rulers, traders, and other prominent individuals.

In the 18th century, the surname Nortey appears in some historical documents related to the Ga people, including accounts of their cultural practices and interactions with European traders and missionaries.

One notable individual bearing the surname Nortey was Nii Nortey Amugi I, a prominent Ga chief who lived in the 18th century. He was known for his leadership and diplomacy in dealing with the British and other European powers that had established a presence in the region.

Another historical figure with the surname Nortey was Nii Nortey Amugi II, who ruled as the Ga Mantse (King) in the late 19th century. He played a significant role in the negotiations and conflicts between the Ga people and the British colonial authorities.

In the 20th century, the surname Nortey gained more prominence as individuals with this name achieved distinction in various fields. One such individual was Dr. Samuel Nortey, a renowned Ghanaian physician and academic who made significant contributions to medical education and public health in Ghana.

Another notable figure was Justice Nortey Dowuona, a Ghanaian legal scholar and jurist who served as a judge on the Supreme Court of Ghana in the late 20th century.

The surname Nortey has also been associated with various place names in Ghana, particularly in the Greater Accra Region, where many Ga communities are located. For example, there is a town called Nortey Town, which is believed to have been named after a prominent family or individual bearing the Nortey surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nortey

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

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

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

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