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

Nze, 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 Nze surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nze in America

Nze is the 156044th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nze surname appeared 104 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 Nze.

The history of the last name Nze

The NZE surname has its origins in Nigeria, specifically in the Igbo-speaking regions of the country's southeastern region. It is believed to have emerged during the late 15th or early 16th century, derived from the Igbo word "nze," which means "king" or "ruler."

The name's prevalence in the region can be traced back to the ancient Nri Kingdom, one of the oldest and most influential kingdoms in Igbo history. It is possible that the NZE surname was originally adopted by members of the royal family or those closely associated with the ruling class.

Early records of the name are scarce, but it is mentioned in some historical accounts and oral traditions passed down through generations. One notable reference is found in the "Nri-Eze" manuscript, an ancient text that documents the history and traditions of the Nri Kingdom.

The first recorded instances of the NZE surname date back to the late 17th century, with mentions in colonial records and local administrative documents. Some of the earliest known bearers of the name include Nze Okonkwo, a prominent merchant and landowner born in the late 1600s, and Nze Okoro, a respected community leader and advisor to the Nri monarch in the early 1700s.

Throughout the centuries, the NZE surname has been associated with various place names and settlements in the Igbo heartland. For example, the town of Nze-Awka, located in present-day Anambra State, is believed to have been founded by individuals bearing the NZE surname.

Notable individuals with the NZE surname include Nze Akanu Ibiam (1914-1995), a prominent Nigerian statesman and former governor of the Eastern Region; Nze Samuel Onyeama (1929-2008), a renowned diplomat and Nigeria's former Minister of Foreign Affairs; and Nze Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo (born 1946), a celebrated author and pioneering figure in Nigerian literature.

Other historical figures bearing the NZE surname include Nze Obinkalu Eke (1880-1965), a prominent traditionalist and custodian of Igbo culture, and Nze Raphael Azikiwe (1904-1986), a respected educator and brother of the renowned Nigerian statesman, Nnamdi Azikiwe.

Throughout its long history, the NZE surname has maintained a strong connection to the Igbo cultural heritage and has been associated with leadership, tradition, and a deep commitment to preserving the rich cultural identities of the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nze

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!