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

Ogun, 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 Ogun surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ogun in America

Ogun is the 100791st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ogun surname appeared 179 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 Ogun.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ogun 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 Ogun

The surname "OGUN" has its origins in Nigeria, West Africa, and can be traced back several centuries. It is a prominent name among the Yoruba people, one of the largest ethnic groups in the region.

The name "OGUN" is derived from the Yoruba word "Ogun," which refers to the god of iron, war, and hunting. In Yoruba mythology, Ogun is revered as a powerful deity responsible for clearing paths through the wilderness, making him a significant figure in the cultural traditions of the Yoruba people.

Historical references to the name "OGUN" can be found in various written records and oral traditions passed down through generations. One notable example is the inclusion of individuals bearing this surname in the records of the Oyo Empire, a prominent Yoruba kingdom that flourished between the 16th and 19th centuries.

The earliest recorded instances of the name "OGUN" can be traced back to the 17th century, with several individuals bearing this surname appearing in administrative documents and oral histories of the Oyo Empire. One notable figure from this period was Ogun Ajayi, a renowned warrior and military leader who played a crucial role in the defense of the Oyo Empire against invading forces.

Throughout history, the surname "OGUN" has been associated with various place names and older spellings of place names within the Yoruba-speaking regions of Nigeria. For example, the town of Ogun-Isoko and the Ogun State in southwestern Nigeria are believed to have derived their names from the Yoruba word "Ogun."

Several famous individuals have borne the surname "OGUN" throughout history, including:

1. Oluwole Ogun (1928-2018), a Nigerian playwright, actor, and director known for his contributions to the development of Nigerian theater.
2. Bode Ogun (1940-2020), a Nigerian lawyer and human rights activist who fought against military dictatorships in Nigeria.
3. Bayo Ogun (born 1962), a Nigerian artist and sculptor renowned for his intricate wood carvings depicting Yoruba culture and mythology.
4. Tayo Ogun (born 1969), a Nigerian-American writer and academic who has authored several novels exploring themes of identity and diaspora.
5. Adebayo Ogun (born 1978), a Nigerian-British football player who played as a midfielder for various clubs in England and Scotland.

It is important to note that while the surname "OGUN" has its roots in the Yoruba culture of Nigeria, it has also been adopted by individuals from other ethnic groups and regions, both within Nigeria and beyond, reflecting the rich diversity and cultural exchange that has taken place throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ogun

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

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

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Ogun, 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!