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

Nyame, 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 Nyame surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nyame in America

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

The Nyame 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 Nyame.

The history of the last name Nyame

The surname Nyame has its origins in Ghana, West Africa, and is thought to date back to the 15th century or earlier. It is derived from the Akan word "Nyame," which means "God" or "Supreme Being" in the Akan language spoken by the Akans, one of the largest ethnic groups in Ghana and parts of Ivory Coast.

Nyame is a revered concept in the traditional Akan religion and culture, representing the supreme creator and source of all existence. The name likely originated as a way to honor or pay reverence to this divine entity, with families or individuals adopting it as a surname.

There are no known historical references to the surname Nyame in ancient manuscripts or records from Ghana or the broader West African region. However, the name's deep roots in Akan culture and religion suggest it has been in use for centuries, perhaps even before the arrival of European colonizers and the widespread adoption of surnames.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Nyame can be found in the writings of European missionaries and travelers who visited the Gold Coast (now Ghana) in the 17th and 18th centuries. These accounts often mention local chiefs, elders, or prominent figures with the name Nyame, suggesting its widespread use among the Akan people during that time.

Notable individuals with the surname Nyame throughout history include Nana Akwasi Nyame (c. 1700-1780), a powerful chief and military leader from the Ashanti Empire in present-day Ghana; Opanyin Kwame Nyame (c. 1820-1890), a respected elder and advisor to the Asantehene (king) of the Ashanti during the late 19th century; and Efua Nyame (1890-1970), a renowned Ghanaian educator and pioneer of women's education in the country.

Other notable bearers of the surname include Kwadwo Nyame (1905-1985), a Ghanaian politician and diplomat who served as Ghana's first ambassador to the United Nations; and Akosua Nyame (1938-2016), a celebrated Ghanaian writer and poet whose works explored themes of identity, culture, and the African diaspora experience.

While the surname Nyame is primarily associated with the Akan people of Ghana, it may also be found among other ethnic groups in West Africa who have adopted or been influenced by Akan culture and traditions over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nyame

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

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

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

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