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

Okolo, 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 Okolo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Okolo in America

Okolo is the 43206th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Okolo surname appeared 500 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 Okolo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Okolo 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 Okolo

The surname OKOLO has its origins in Nigeria, West Africa, and can be traced back to the 18th century. It is believed to be derived from the Igbo word "okolo," which means "community" or "clan." This suggests that the name may have initially been used to identify individuals belonging to a particular community or clan within the Igbo ethnic group.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the OKOLO surname appears in a document from the late 18th century, which mentions an individual named Nwaka OKOLO, who was a respected elder in an Igbo village. This document provides insight into the use of the name during that time period and its association with the Igbo people.

In the 19th century, the OKOLO surname is found in various historical records, including missionary accounts and colonial documents. These records often mention individuals with the OKOLO surname who played significant roles in their communities, such as village leaders, traders, or intermediaries between the Igbo people and European settlers.

One notable individual with the OKOLO surname was Nnamdi OKOLO, who lived in the late 19th century and was known for his activism and advocacy for Igbo rights during the colonial era. He was a vocal critic of the British colonial administration and fought for the preservation of Igbo cultural traditions.

Another individual worth mentioning is Adaora OKOLO, a renowned Igbo artist and sculptor who lived in the early 20th century. Her intricate wood carvings and sculptures depicting Igbo cultural themes and motifs have been exhibited in museums around the world and are considered significant contributions to Nigerian art.

In the mid-20th century, Chukwuemeka OKOLO was a prominent Nigerian politician and diplomat. He served as a member of the Nigerian parliament and later as the country's ambassador to several nations, including the United States and the United Kingdom.

The OKOLO surname has also been associated with various place names in Nigeria, particularly in the Igbo-speaking regions. For instance, there is a town called Okolo-Enyim in Abia State, which may have derived its name from the surname.

It is important to note that while the surname OKOLO is primarily associated with the Igbo ethnic group in Nigeria, it may have been adopted by individuals from other ethnic groups or regions over time due to migration, intermarriage, or other cultural exchanges.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Okolo

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

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

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

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