2000
#28,912
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 774
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.29
Rare Last name
Okoro
An Igbo family name indicating the bearer is from a prominent lineage.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,110 Americans carry the last name Okoro. That puts it at #15,355 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.62 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 162,443 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Okoro surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Okoro with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
2.1K
1 in 162,443
Census rank
#15,355
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.8K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,840 bearers of the surname Okoro in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.62 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 15355th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Okoro, the largest self-reported group is Black at 94.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.5%) and White (1.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Okoro
The surname Okoro originates from the Igbo ethnic group of southeastern Nigeria. It is believed to have emerged in the 15th or 16th century, derived from the Igbo phrase "Ọkọrọ ọgụ," which translates to "warrior" or "valiant one." The name was likely given to individuals who displayed great courage and bravery during times of conflict or battle.
In ancient Igbo society, warriors were highly respected and revered for their strength, skill, and unwavering dedication to protecting their communities. The Okoro surname may have been bestowed upon those who exemplified these qualities, serving as a symbol of honor and recognition.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Okoro surname can be found in the historical accounts of the Nri Kingdom, a once-powerful civilization in present-day Anambra State, Nigeria. The Nri people were known for their advanced system of governance and cultural traditions, and it is believed that some of the earliest bearers of the Okoro name may have originated from this region.
Notable individuals throughout history who have carried the Okoro surname include Ọnụọha Okoro (c. 1650-1720), a renowned warrior and leader of the Oguta people, who was instrumental in defending his community against invading forces. Another prominent figure was Nwakamma Okoro (1810-1890), a skilled craftsman and sculptor whose intricate woodcarvings have been celebrated as significant contributions to Igbo art and culture.
In the 19th century, Okoro Nwoko (1825-1905) gained recognition as a respected diplomat and negotiator, playing a crucial role in resolving conflicts between neighboring communities. His diplomatic efforts were instrumental in fostering peace and stability in the region.
The Okoro surname has also been associated with places and landmarks, such as the Okoro River, a major tributary of the Niger River, which flows through parts of southeastern Nigeria. Additionally, the Okoro Village, located in Anambra State, is believed to have been named after an early Okoro settlement in the area.
Other notable individuals with the Okoro surname include Chukwuemeka Okoro (1920-2002), a renowned educator and author who made significant contributions to the preservation of Igbo language and literature, and Theresa Okoro (1935-2018), a pioneering businesswoman and philanthropist who founded one of Nigeria's largest conglomerates.
Throughout history, the Okoro surname has been a symbol of strength, courage, and resilience, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of the Igbo people and their enduring contributions to Nigerian society.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Okoro
Among Census respondents with the surname Okoro, the largest self-reported group is Black at 94.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.5%) and White (1.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Okoro bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Okoro surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American94.5% · 1,738
- Two or more races2.5% · 46
- White1.8% · 34
- Hispanic or Latino0.6% · 11
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.4% · 8
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.2% · 3
Timeline
Historical Census data for Okoro
Okoro appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#20,227
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,317
+543 bearers (+70.2%)
Per 100,000 0.45
Rank movement Up 8,685 places
2020
#15,355
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,840
+523 bearers (+39.7%)
Per 100,000 0.62
Rank movement Up 4,872 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #28,912 | 774 | 0.29 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #20,227 | 1,317 | 0.45 | +543 bearers (+70.2%) | Up 8,685 places |
| 2020 | #15,355 | 1,840 | 0.62 | +523 bearers (+39.7%) | Up 4,872 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Okoro surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #20,227 | #15,355 | 24.1% |
| Count | 1,317 | 1,840 | 39.7% |
| Per 100K | 0.45 | 0.62 | 36.8% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Okoro bearers went from 1,317 to 1,840 (+39.7% change). The surname moved up 4,872 positions in the national ranking, going from #20,227 to #15,355.
FAQ
Okoro surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Okoro?
Name Census estimates that about 2,110 living Americans carry the surname Okoro. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 162,443 residents.
How common is Okoro?
Okoro ranks #15,355 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.62 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 1,840 people with the surname Okoro. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (2,110), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.62 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.62 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Okoro.
Has Okoro become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Okoro went from 1,317 recorded bearers to 1,840. That is an increase of 523 (+39.7%). In the national ranking it rose from #20,227 to #15,355.
What does the Census say about the background of Okoro?
Among Census respondents with the surname Okoro, the largest self-reported group is Black at 94.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.5%) and White (1.8%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Black is the largest self-reported group for the surname Okoro in the 2020 Census, accounting for 94.5% (1,738 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Okoro appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Black (94.5%), Two or More Races (2.5%), White (1.8%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Okoro (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Okoro mean?
An Igbo family name indicating the bearer is from a prominent lineage. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Okoro (0.62 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Okoro?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.