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

Odunze, 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 Odunze surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Odunze in America

Odunze is the 159712th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Odunze surname appeared 101 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 Odunze.

The history of the last name Odunze

The surname Odunze has its origins in Nigeria, where it first emerged in the 16th century. It is derived from the Igbo language and is believed to be a combination of two words: 'odu,' meaning 'farm,' and 'nze,' meaning 'master' or 'owner.' Thus, the name Odunze can be interpreted as 'master of the farm' or 'owner of the farm.'

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Odunze can be found in the historical records of the Kingdom of Nri, an ancient Igbo civilization that flourished in present-day Anambra State, Nigeria. These records, which date back to the 16th century, mention an individual named Odunze Nri, who was a prominent farmer and landowner.

In the 18th century, the name Odunze appeared in the records of the Arochukwu Kingdom, another Igbo kingdom located in what is now Abia State, Nigeria. These records reference an Odunze family that had migrated from the Nri Kingdom and established themselves as successful traders and farmers in the Arochukwu region.

One notable individual with the surname Odunze was Obi Odunze, a powerful chief and landowner who lived in the late 18th century in the village of Ogbunike, located in present-day Anambra State. Obi Odunze was renowned for his wealth, influence, and generosity, and is said to have played a significant role in the development of his community.

In the 19th century, the name Odunze appeared in the records of the British colonial administration in Nigeria. These records mention several individuals with the surname, including Nnamdi Odunze, a prominent trader and farmer who lived in the Orlu region of present-day Imo State.

Another notable figure with the surname Odunze was Chika Odunze, a renowned artist and sculptor who lived in the early 20th century. Chika Odunze's works, which often depicted scenes from Igbo culture and mythology, are now considered important examples of traditional Nigerian art and are displayed in museums around the world.

Over the centuries, the Odunze surname has evolved to include various spellings and variations, such as Odunze, Odunzee, and Odunzeh. However, the core meaning and origin of the name remain rooted in the Igbo language and the concept of land ownership and agriculture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Odunze

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

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

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

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