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

Nwokedi, 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 Nwokedi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nwokedi in America

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

The Nwokedi 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 Nwokedi.

The history of the last name Nwokedi

The surname Nwokedi originated from the Igbo ethnic group of Nigeria. It is believed to have first appeared in the 15th century in the region now known as Anambra State. The name is derived from the Igbo words "nwoke" meaning "man" and "di" meaning "child" or "offspring". Therefore, Nwokedi is thought to have initially referred to a male child or son.

In the late 16th century, the name Nwokedi was recorded in some of the earliest written records kept by European missionaries in the region. These records often listed names of local chiefs, interpreters, and other notable individuals they interacted with. Several different spellings of the name were used, including Nwokede, Nwokedy, and Nwokedee.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Nwokedi comes from a 1612 document describing a meeting between a Portuguese explorer and a local chief named Nwokedi Okafor. This chief is said to have been from the village of Nri, which was a major cultural and religious center for the Igbo people at the time.

In the 18th century, the name Nwokedi appeared in several British colonial records related to trade and governance in the region. A man named Nwokedi Nwosu, born around 1735, was listed as a respected elder and advisor to the Obi (ruler) of Onitsha, a major trading town along the Niger River.

Another notable bearer of the Nwokedi name was Nwokedi Okigbo, a successful merchant and landowner who lived in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He was known for his extensive trade network and his philanthropic contributions to his community.

In the 19th century, the Nwokedi surname became more widespread as the Igbo people migrated to different parts of Nigeria and beyond. One prominent figure was Nwokedi Azikiwe, born in 1904, who was a pioneering journalist and co-founder of several influential Nigerian newspapers.

Nwokedi Onyedikaonye, born in 1922, was a renowned Igbo scholar and author who wrote extensively on Igbo culture, language, and history. His works are considered essential resources for understanding the Igbo people and their traditions.

Throughout its history, the Nwokedi surname has been associated with various place names and locations in Igboland, reflecting the geographic origins and movements of its bearers. Some of these place names include Nwokediville, Nwokeditown, and Nwokediogidi, among others.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nwokedi

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

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

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

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