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

Nwakanma, 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 Nwakanma surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nwakanma in America

Nwakanma is the 145220th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nwakanma surname appeared 114 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 Nwakanma.

The history of the last name Nwakanma

The surname Nwakanma originates from the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria. It is a compound name derived from the Igbo words "nwa" meaning "child" and "kanma" meaning "to perfect" or "to refine". The name likely emerged during the 15th or 16th century as a descriptive surname referring to a child who was refined or well-behaved.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Nwakanma appears in a historical document from the Arochukwu Kingdom, dated to the late 17th century. This document mentions an individual named Nwakanma Okoroafor, who is believed to have been a prominent figure in the local community.

In the 19th century, there are records of a Nwakanma family in the town of Owerri, where they were known for their skills in traditional weaving and cloth-making. A notable member of this family was Nwakanma Okoronkwo, born in 1842, who was renowned for his intricate designs and patterns.

During the colonial era, the name Nwakanma is found in administrative records and census data from British authorities in the region. Some of these records include Nwakanma Okoro (1875-1941), a respected elder and community leader, and Nwakanma Onyekachi (1892-1968), a trader and entrepreneur.

In more recent history, one of the most famous individuals with the surname Nwakanma is Chido Onumah Nwakanma, a Nigerian author, journalist, and human rights activist born in 1967. He has written extensively on issues of democracy, governance, and social justice in Nigeria.

Another notable Nwakanma is Chike Nwakanma, born in 1958, who is a renowned Nigerian economist and academic. He has held various positions at universities and international organizations, contributing to the field of development economics and policy.

The surname Nwakanma has also spread beyond Nigeria, with individuals bearing this name found in various parts of the world, particularly in the United States and other countries with significant Nigerian diaspora communities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nwakanma

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

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

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

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