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

Okereke, 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 Okereke surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Okereke in America

Okereke is the 43969th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Okereke surname appeared 490 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 Okereke.

We can also compare 2010 data for Okereke 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 Okereke

The surname Okereke originated in the Igbo-speaking region of present-day Nigeria. The earliest known recorded instances of the name date back to the 17th century. Okereke is derived from the Igbo words "oke" meaning "hill" or "upland" and "reke" meaning "witness" or "testify." The name suggests that the original bearer may have lived on a hill or elevated area and served as a witness or testified to events in their community.

The Okereke surname is also closely tied to the town of Orlu in Imo State, Nigeria, where many families bearing this name have their ancestral roots. Oral traditions suggest that the Okereke lineage can be traced back to a prominent individual named Okereke who lived in the 16th or 17th century and was a respected leader in the Orlu area.

One of the earliest documented references to the Okereke name appears in the writings of British explorer and linguist George Trevour Willmore, who published an account of his travels in the region in the late 19th century. He mentions encountering several Okereke families during his explorations.

Notable individuals throughout history with the surname Okereke include:

1. Chinua Okereke (1930-1999), a renowned Nigerian writer and playwright whose works explored themes of cultural identity and postcolonial experiences.

2. Nkechi Okereke (1892-1976), a pioneering Nigerian educator who founded one of the first secondary schools for girls in the country.

3. Chukwuemeka Okereke (1905-1983), a prominent Nigerian businessman and philanthropist who established several successful enterprises and contributed to various educational and charitable causes.

4. Adaobi Okereke (1922-2008), a Nigerian activist and advocate for women's rights who played a significant role in the Nigerian independence movement.

5. Chioma Okereke (born 1978), a contemporary Nigerian artist and sculptor whose work has been exhibited internationally and explores themes of identity, memory, and cultural heritage.

The Okereke name has also been associated with several notable places and landmarks in Nigeria, such as the Okereke Hill in Orlu, which is believed to be the ancestral home of many Okereke families and holds cultural significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Okereke

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

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

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

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