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

Ogbonna, 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 Ogbonna surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ogbonna in America

Ogbonna is the 33941st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ogbonna surname appeared 670 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 Ogbonna.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ogbonna 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 Ogbonna

The surname Ogbonna originates from the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria. It is believed to have emerged during the 15th century, when the Igbo kingdoms were well-established and influential in the region. The name is derived from the Igbo words "ogbo," meaning "wealth" or "prosperity," and "nna," meaning "father" or "ancestor."

In traditional Igbo culture, names often carried significant meaning and were carefully chosen to reflect the values and aspirations of the family or community. The name Ogbonna likely signified the desire for prosperity and wealth to be passed down through generations, honoring the ancestors and their legacy.

Historical records from the Igbo kingdoms during the 15th to 18th centuries occasionally mention individuals with the surname Ogbonna or similar variations, such as Ogbonnaya or Ogbonna-Eze. However, due to the oral tradition and limited written records from that era, specific details about notable individuals bearing this name are scarce.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Ogbonna surname can be found in the writings of European explorers and missionaries who visited the region in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. In his journal from 1789, the British explorer Mungo Park mentioned encountering an Igbo village chief named Ogbonna Nnaji, who assisted him during his travels across West Africa.

As the Igbo people migrated and established communities across various regions, the surname Ogbonna spread alongside them. In the 20th century, several prominent figures emerged with this surname, including Ogbonna Nwachukwu (1912-1988), a renowned Igbo novelist and playwright, and Ogbonna Ibe (1932-2002), a respected Nigerian politician and diplomat.

Other notable individuals with the surname Ogbonna include:

1. Ogbonna Kalu (1923-1997), a Nigerian businessman and philanthropist.
2. Ogbonna Nweke (born 1951), a Nigerian academic and author.
3. Ogbonna Nwube (born 1969), a Nigerian football player and coach.
4. Ogbonna Okafur (born 1977), a Nigerian artist and sculptor.
5. Ogbonna Ezekwesili (born 1982), a Nigerian professional basketball player.

While the Ogbonna surname has its roots in the Igbo culture, it has now spread globally due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins and historical significance remain deeply rooted in the rich cultural heritage of the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ogbonna

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

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

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

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