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

Okezie, 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 Okezie surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Okezie in America

Okezie is the 118185th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Okezie surname appeared 147 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 Okezie.

We can also compare 2010 data for Okezie 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 Okezie

The surname Okezie originates from the Igbo ethnic group of southeastern Nigeria. It is believed to have emerged in the 16th century or earlier. The name is derived from the Igbo words "Oke" meaning "hill" or "upland" and "Ezie" meaning "king" or "ruler". Thus, the name Okezie roughly translates to "king of the uplands" or "ruler of the hills".

This surname is closely linked to the ancient Igbo settlement of Orlu, located in the present-day Imo State. Historical records indicate that the Okezie clan played a prominent role in the establishment and governance of this region during the pre-colonial era. The earliest known written reference to the name Okezie dates back to the late 17th century, when it appeared in Portuguese missionary accounts documenting their interactions with the local Igbo communities.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the Okezie surname was Eze Okezie, a renowned Igbo leader and warrior who lived in the late 16th century. He was instrumental in defending the Orlu region against invasions from neighboring kingdoms and is celebrated in local folklore for his bravery and tactical acumen.

In the 18th century, Nwaokoye Okezie gained prominence as a respected trader and diplomat, facilitating commercial and diplomatic ties between the Igbo communities and European merchants active in the region. His efforts contributed to the growth of the trans-Atlantic slave trade, which had a profound impact on the socio-economic and cultural landscape of West Africa.

During the 19th century, Nnamdi Okezie emerged as a prominent advocate for Igbo rights and autonomy. He actively campaigned against the encroachment of British colonial rule and was instrumental in organizing resistance movements against the imposition of direct British authority over Igbo territories.

In more recent times, notable individuals bearing the Okezie surname include Chukwuemeka Okezie (1920-1988), a renowned Nigerian playwright and author whose works explored themes of cultural identity and the impact of colonialism on traditional Igbo society. Additionally, Nkem Okezie (born 1976) is a celebrated Nigerian-American author and poet whose literary works have garnered international acclaim.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Okezie

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

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

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

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