Nyamekye last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Nyamekye

A surname of Akan origin meaning "I have gained."

Nyamekye, 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 Nyamekye surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nyamekye in America

Nyamekye is the 110286th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nyamekye surname appeared 160 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 Nyamekye.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nyamekye 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 110286 150436 -30.80%
Count 160 100 46.15%
Proportion per 100k 0.05 0.04 22.22%

The history of the last name Nyamekye

The surname NYAMEKYE is of Ghanaian origin, tracing its roots back to the Akan people of West Africa. The name is believed to have originated in the 17th century or earlier, derived from the Akan words "nyame" meaning God and "kye" meaning gift, suggesting the meaning "God's gift."

NYAMEKYE was traditionally used by the Akans, who are one of the largest ethnic groups in Ghana and the Ivory Coast. The name is most commonly found in the Ashanti region of Ghana, where the Ashanti Kingdom, a powerful and influential empire, thrived from the late 17th to the late 19th century.

Historical records of the name NYAMEKYE are scarce, as written documentation was limited in the region during the early periods. However, oral traditions and genealogical records maintained by the Akan people have preserved the name's heritage.

One of the earliest documented instances of the name NYAMEKYE dates back to the late 18th century, when a prominent Akan chief named Nyamekye Kwame ruled over a region in the Ashanti Kingdom. His leadership and influence during that era helped establish the name's significance within the Akan culture.

Another notable figure bearing the surname NYAMEKYE was Kwadwo Nyamekye, a respected Akan scholar and linguist who lived in the early 19th century. He played a crucial role in documenting and preserving the Akan language, contributing to the understanding and appreciation of the rich cultural heritage of the Akan people.

In the late 19th century, a prominent Akan warrior named Yaw Nyamekye gained recognition for his bravery and military prowess during the Ashanti-British wars. His exploits and leadership during these conflicts have been recorded in historical accounts, solidifying the name's association with courage and strength.

Moving into the 20th century, Akosua Nyamekye, an influential Akan educator and community leader, made significant contributions to promoting education and empowerment among Ghanaian women. Her efforts and dedication to improving the lives of her people have left a lasting impact.

Throughout history, the surname NYAMEKYE has maintained a strong connection to the Akan culture and has been carried by individuals who have made notable contributions to their communities and societies.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nyamekye

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

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 Nyamekye was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic Black Only 98.75% 158
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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 Nyamekye has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 0.00% (S)% (S)%
Black 98.75% 98.00% 0.76%
Asian and Pacific Islander 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Two or More Races (S)% 0.00% (S)%
Hispanic (S)% (S)% (S)%

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

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

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"Nyamekye last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/nyamekye-surname-popularity/.

"Nyamekye last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/nyamekye-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 November, 2024

Nyamekye last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/nyamekye-surname-popularity/.

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