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

Obioha, 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 Obioha surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Obioha in America

Obioha is the 92719th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Obioha surname appeared 198 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 Obioha.

We can also compare 2010 data for Obioha 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 Obioha

The surname OBIOHA is of Nigerian origin, originating from the Igbo people of south-eastern Nigeria. The name is believed to have first emerged in the late 16th or early 17th century, likely derived from a combination of the Igbo words "Obi" meaning "heart" and "Oha" meaning "life" or "being alive." Thus, the name OBIOHA can be interpreted to mean something along the lines of "heart of life" or "heart of being."

One of the earliest known references to the surname OBIOHA can be found in oral histories and folktales passed down among the Igbo people, which often included accounts of revered ancestors and clan elders bearing this name. However, it was not until the arrival of European missionaries and colonial administrators in the 19th century that written records of Igbo names and genealogies began to be compiled.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname OBIOHA was Nnamdi OBIOHA, a prominent Igbo trader and village leader who lived in the mid-19th century. His name appears in several colonial-era documents and correspondence related to trade agreements and land disputes in the region around what is now known as Abia State.

Another notable figure in the history of the OBIOHA surname was Okorie OBIOHA, a renowned herbalist and traditional healer who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His expertise in traditional Igbo medicine and his extensive knowledge of local flora and fauna were widely respected throughout the region, and he was often consulted by village chiefs and elders.

In the early 20th century, Chukwuemeka OBIOHA gained recognition as one of the first Igbo people to attend a formal Western-style educational institution, graduating from the prestigious Hope Waddell Training Institute in Calabar in 1912. He went on to become a prominent educator and advocate for the advancement of education among the Igbo people.

Another significant figure was Onyekachi OBIOHA, a celebrated Igbo sculptor and woodcarver who lived in the mid-20th century. His intricate and detailed carvings, often depicting scenes from Igbo folklore and mythology, were highly sought after and can be found in various museums and private collections around the world.

Throughout the 20th century and into the present day, the OBIOHA surname has continued to be well-represented in various fields, including academia, politics, business, and the arts, both in Nigeria and among the Igbo diaspora communities around the globe.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Obioha

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

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

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

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