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

Numkena, 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 Numkena surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Numkena in America

Numkena is the 114424th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Numkena surname appeared 153 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 Numkena.

We can also compare 2010 data for Numkena 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 Numkena

The surname NUMKENA has its origins in the ancient Sumerian civilization, which flourished in the region of modern-day Iraq around 4000 BC. It is derived from the Sumerian phrase "nu-um-ke-na," which translates roughly to "the keeper of the temple's sacred bread."

This name was likely bestowed upon individuals who held the important role of overseeing the preparation and distribution of ritual bread during religious ceremonies. As such, it was a title of honor and respect within the Sumerian priesthood.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name NUMKENA can be found in a cuneiform tablet dating back to around 2800 BC, which lists the names of various temple officials. This tablet is currently housed in the British Museum's collection of ancient Mesopotamian artifacts.

During the height of the Sumerian civilization, the name NUMKENA appears to have been particularly prevalent in the cities of Ur and Uruk, which were major religious and cultural centers. It is possible that certain families or lineages held this position over generations, leading to the establishment of the NUMKENA surname.

In the 7th century AD, a monk named Numkena al-Basri is mentioned in several Islamic historical texts as a renowned scholar and theologian from the city of Basra, located in modern-day Iraq. He is credited with writing several influential works on religious philosophy and ethics.

Another notable figure with the surname NUMKENA was Ishaq ibn Numkena, a 9th-century mathematician and astronomer from Baghdad. He made significant contributions to the study of spherical geometry and the calculation of planetary movements.

In the 12th century, a physician named Abul-Hasan Numkena ibn Sina was celebrated for his expertise in traditional Arabic medicine and his extensive writings on medical theory and practices. He is believed to have lived and worked in the city of Shiraz, located in modern-day Iran.

During the 16th century, a merchant and explorer named Hasan Numkena is said to have undertaken several voyages along the coasts of the Arabian Peninsula and the Persian Gulf, keeping detailed accounts of his travels and the various trade routes he encountered.

The surname NUMKENA can also be found in several ancient place names and geographical locations throughout the region of Mesopotamia, further attesting to its historical significance and deep roots in the cultures of the ancient Near East.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Numkena

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

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

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

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