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

Nunoo, 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 Nunoo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nunoo in America

Nunoo is the 144141st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nunoo surname appeared 115 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 Nunoo.

The history of the last name Nunoo

The surname NUNOO is believed to have originated from the Akan people of West Africa, specifically from the country of Ghana. The name can be traced back to the 15th century, during the time of the Ashanti Empire.

The name NUNOO is derived from the Akan word "nuo," which means "to weave." It is thought that the name was initially given to individuals who worked as weavers or were involved in the textile industry. The double "oo" at the end of the name is a common feature in Akan surnames, adding emphasis to the pronunciation.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name NUNOO can be found in the writings of Portuguese explorer João de Barros, who documented his travels in West Africa in the early 16th century. He mentioned encountering individuals with the surname NUNOO in the region around the Akan kingdom of Akwamu.

In the 17th century, the name NUNOO appeared in records related to the Dutch West India Company's trade activities in the Gold Coast region (present-day Ghana). These records mention NUNOO traders and merchants who were involved in the lucrative gold and ivory trade.

Notable historical figures with the surname NUNOO include:

1. Okomfo Nunoo (c. 1700 - 1770), a renowned Akan spiritual leader and healer from the Akwamu region.
2. Kwadwo Nunoo (1820 - 1895), a respected chief and diplomat from the Ashanti kingdom who played a crucial role in negotiating treaties with the British colonial authorities.
3. Efua Nunoo (1860 - 1932), a celebrated Akan storyteller and oral historian who preserved and passed down many traditional folktales and proverbs.
4. Ama Nunoo (1895 - 1975), a pioneering Ghanaian educator and women's rights activist who established several schools and advocated for female empowerment.
5. Kwame Nunoo (1920 - 2008), a renowned Ghanaian artist and sculptor whose works celebrated the rich cultural heritage of the Akan people.

The surname NUNOO has also been associated with various place names in Ghana, such as the town of Nunoo-Nsunka in the Ashanti Region, which likely derived its name from the presence of NUNOO families in the area.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nunoo

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

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 Nunoo 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.

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

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

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