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

Okorie, 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 Okorie surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Okorie in America

Okorie is the 47521st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Okorie surname appeared 446 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 Okorie.

We can also compare 2010 data for Okorie 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 Okorie

The surname Okorie originates from the Igbo people of eastern Nigeria. It is believed to have emerged in the 16th century, deriving from the Igbo word "okorie" meaning "wealthy one" or "prosperous person." This suggests the name was initially given to individuals who had achieved a significant level of prosperity and success.

The earliest recorded instances of the Okorie surname can be found in historical documents and records from the Igbo heartland, particularly in the areas now known as Anambra, Enugu, and Ebonyi states. One notable early reference is in a manuscript from the 17th century, which mentions an Igbo chief named Okorie Nnaji who ruled over a prosperous village.

In the 18th century, the name appears in records of the Arochukwu slave trade, where an Okorie family was documented as being among the prominent traders in the region. This suggests that by this time, the name had become associated with influential and affluent families within Igbo society.

One of the earliest known individuals with the Okorie surname was Okorie Nwankwo, a renowned Igbo trader and diplomat who lived in the late 18th century. He was known for his role in facilitating trade and diplomatic relations between the Igbo people and neighboring communities.

Another significant figure was Okorie Amadi, a prominent Igbo activist and intellectual who lived in the late 19th century. He played a crucial role in the early development of Igbo literature and was a vocal advocate for the preservation of Igbo cultural heritage.

In more recent history, the name Okorie has been carried by several notable individuals, including Okorie Kalu Ogbue (1919-2004), a renowned Igbo writer and poet, and Okorie Uzor (1927-2008), a renowned Igbo artist and sculptor whose works have been exhibited globally.

While the Okorie surname has its roots in the Igbo culture of eastern Nigeria, it has since spread to other parts of the country and even internationally, as members of the Igbo diaspora have settled in various parts of the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Okorie

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

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

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

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