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

Nwankwo, 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 Nwankwo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nwankwo in America

Nwankwo is the 25255th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nwankwo surname appeared 981 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 Nwankwo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nwankwo 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 Nwankwo

The surname NWANKWO is of Nigerian origin, derived from the Igbo language spoken in southeastern Nigeria. It traces its roots to the late 15th century and the emergence of the Nri Kingdom, one of the oldest and most influential civilizations in the region.

NWANKWO is believed to be a fusion of two Igbo words, "nwa" meaning "child" and "nkwo" referring to a traditional market day or gathering. This combination suggests the name may have originated as a way to identify individuals born on market days or during important community events.

Early records of the NWANKWO name can be found in oral histories and traditional genealogies passed down through generations of Igbo families. However, written accounts became more prevalent in the 19th century with the arrival of European missionaries and the introduction of written Igbo language.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the NWANKWO name was Nwankwo Nwogbo, a prominent Igbo trader and community leader who lived in the late 18th century. His influence and reputation as a skilled negotiator and peacemaker earned him the respect of his peers and neighboring communities.

Another notable figure was Nwankwo Kanu, a renowned Igbo wrestler and warrior who lived in the early 19th century. Stories of his strength and bravery in defending his village against rival clans and invaders have been passed down through generations of Igbo folklore.

In more recent history, Nwankwo Nwobodo (1936-2022) was a prominent Nigerian politician who served as the governor of Anambra State from 1979 to 1983. He played a significant role in the development of the state's infrastructure and education system.

Kanu Nwankwo (born 1976) is a former Nigerian professional footballer who played as a striker for several top European clubs, including Ajax, Inter Milan, and Arsenal. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest African players of his generation.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (born 1977), the acclaimed Nigerian author and feminist, was born Chimamanda Ngozi Nwankwo before adopting her husband's surname. Her novels, including "Half of a Yellow Sun" and "Americanah," have won numerous awards and critical acclaim worldwide.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nwankwo

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

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

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

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