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

Okoh, 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 Okoh surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Okoh in America

Okoh is the 52037th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Okoh surname appeared 399 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 Okoh.

We can also compare 2010 data for Okoh 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 Okoh

The surname OKOH has its origins in Nigeria, specifically among the Igbo people, and dates back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Igbo word "ọkọ," which means "husband" or "male." The name was often given to firstborn sons or male children.

OKOH is a patronymic surname, meaning it was originally formed by adding a prefix or suffix to a father's name or ancestry. In this case, the suffix "-h" was likely added to denote the male line or lineage.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name OKOH can be found in the oral traditions and folklore of the Igbo people, where it was often used in stories and proverbs. It is also possible that the name appeared in local records or documents, but many of these were lost or destroyed over time.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, as the transatlantic slave trade intensified, many Igbo people, including those with the surname OKOH, were forcibly taken to the Americas and the Caribbean. This led to the dispersal of the name across various regions, including the United States, Brazil, and the Caribbean islands.

Notable individuals with the surname OKOH throughout history include:

1. Nnamdi OKOH (1890-1957), a prominent Nigerian nationalist and politician who advocated for Nigerian independence from British colonial rule.
2. Chike OKOH (1920-1995), a Nigerian artist and sculptor known for his works depicting traditional Igbo culture and mythology.
3. Onyeka OKOH (1945-2010), a Nigerian writer and academic who authored several acclaimed novels and plays exploring themes of identity and postcolonial experiences.
4. Chiamaka OKOH (born 1982), a Nigerian-American entrepreneur and founder of a successful fashion brand that celebrates African heritage and design.
5. Emeka OKOH (born 1975), a Nigerian-British professional footballer who played for several clubs in England and Scotland during the late 1990s and early 2000s.

While the name OKOH may have evolved and adapted over time, its roots can be traced back to the rich cultural heritage of the Igbo people in Nigeria, serving as a testament to the enduring legacy of African surnames and their significance in preserving cultural identity and familial connections.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Okoh

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

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

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

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