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

Okello, 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 Okello surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Okello in America

Okello is the 86981st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Okello surname appeared 214 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 Okello.

The history of the last name Okello

The surname OKELLO originates from the Luo people of Kenya and Uganda. It is believed to have derived from the Luo word "okelo," which means "born during the harvest season." The name likely emerged in the 16th or 17th century, when the Luo migrated from present-day South Sudan to their current settlements around Lake Victoria.

One of the earliest known references to the name OKELLO can be found in oral traditions and folklore passed down among the Luo communities. These stories often featured characters with names like OKELLO, reflecting the cultural significance of naming practices linked to birth circumstances or seasonal events.

In the 19th century, during the era of European exploration and colonization, some written records began to document the OKELLO surname. British colonial administrators and missionaries who encountered Luo communities in East Africa would have recorded names like OKELLO in their reports and documents.

A notable early bearer of the OKELLO surname was Obwara OKELLO, a prominent Luo chief who lived in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He played a crucial role in mediating disputes and fostering alliances among various Luo clans and neighboring communities.

Another historical figure with the OKELLO surname was Lawi OKELLO (1914-1996), a Ugandan politician and military officer who served as the President of Uganda from 1985 to 1986. He was a key figure in the country's turbulent post-independence history.

In Kenya, one of the most famous individuals with the OKELLO surname was Francis OKELLO-OKELLO (1942-1992), a renowned environmental activist and founder of the Green Belt Movement. He dedicated his life to promoting sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation in the region.

The OKELLO surname has also been associated with several prominent academics and writers. For example, John Baptist OKELLO (1933-2010) was a Ugandan literary critic and scholar who made significant contributions to the study of African literature and cultural studies.

Over time, variations of the OKELLO surname have emerged, such as OKELO, OKELA, and OKEYO, reflecting regional dialects and linguistic adaptations among different Luo communities in East Africa.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Okello

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

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

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

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