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

Okoli, 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 Okoli surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Okoli in America

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

The Okoli 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 Okoli.

We can also compare 2010 data for Okoli 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 Okoli

The surname Okoli originates from Nigeria, particularly the Igbo tribe in the south-eastern region. The name can be traced back to the 15th century or earlier. It is believed to have derived from the Igbo word "ọkọlị," which means "the source" or "the origin." This suggests that the name may have been given to families or individuals who lived near significant water sources or rivers.

Okoli is a widely recognized surname among the Igbo people, and it has been documented in various historical records and manuscripts. One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the "Ifo Okwara," a collection of Igbo oral traditions and folklore, which dates back to the 16th century.

Some notable individuals with the surname Okoli throughout history include:

1. Chief Michael Okoli (1885-1962), a prominent Igbo leader and influential figure in the Nigerian independence movement.
2. Professor Chukwuma Okoli (1932-2018), a renowned Nigerian scholar and academic who specialized in African literature and culture.
3. Dr. Florence Okoli (1901-1988), one of the first female medical doctors in Nigeria and a pioneering advocate for women's health and education.
4. Reverend Samuel Okoli (1880-1957), a Christian missionary who played a significant role in spreading Christianity among the Igbo people in the early 20th century.
5. Chief Obinna Okoli (1920-2008), a respected traditional ruler and custodian of Igbo cultural heritage.

It is worth noting that the surname Okoli has also been associated with various place names and older spellings of place names in the Igbo heartland. For example, the town of Okoloma and the village of Okolobiri are believed to have derived their names from the Okoli surname.

The Okoli name has a rich history deeply rooted in the Igbo culture and traditions. Its enduring presence and significance within the Igbo community have made it a recognizable and respected surname across Nigeria and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Okoli

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

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

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

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