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

Nwosu, 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 Nwosu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nwosu in America

Nwosu is the 19716th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nwosu surname appeared 1,366 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 Nwosu.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nwosu 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 Nwosu

The surname Nwosu originates from Nigeria and can be traced back to the Igbo ethnic group in the southeastern part of the country. The name is believed to have derived from the Igbo phrase "nwọsụ ọzọ," which translates to "another person's child" or "another's child."

This surname likely emerged during the pre-colonial era when it was common practice among the Igbo people to adopt children from other families or villages. These adopted children would often take on the surname Nwosu to signify their status as an adopted child within the new family.

Some of the earliest recorded instances of the Nwosu surname can be found in historical documents and records from the 18th and 19th centuries, such as colonial-era census records and missionary accounts. However, it is likely that the name existed well before these written records.

One notable historical figure with the surname Nwosu was Onyeama Nwosu, a prominent Igbo chief and trader who lived in the late 18th century. He was known for his extensive trading network and influence in the region.

In the 20th century, several individuals with the Nwosu surname gained prominence, including Michael Nwosu (1919-1995), a Nigerian politician and diplomat who served as the country's Minister of Education and Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Another notable figure was Vincent Nwosu (1930-2008), a Nigerian author and playwright whose works explored Igbo culture and tradition. His play "The Burial" is considered a classic of Nigerian literature.

Chukwuemeka Nwosu (1947-2020) was a Nigerian businessman and industrialist who founded the Nwosu Group of Companies, a conglomerate with interests in various sectors, including manufacturing, agriculture, and real estate.

In the literary world, Adaora Nwosu (born 1960) is a renowned Nigerian poet and academic whose works have explored themes of identity, gender, and cultural heritage.

Finally, Chioma Nwosu (born 1978) is a Nigerian fashion designer and entrepreneur who has gained recognition for her sustainable and eco-friendly clothing line, which incorporates traditional Igbo textile patterns and techniques.

While the Nwosu surname has its roots in the Igbo culture of Nigeria, it has since spread across the world, with individuals bearing this name making significant contributions in various fields.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nwosu

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

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

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

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