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

Okoth, 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 Okoth surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Okoth in America

Okoth is the 113791st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Okoth surname appeared 154 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 Okoth.

The history of the last name Okoth

The surname Okoth originates from the Luo ethnic group of western Kenya and eastern Uganda. It is believed to have derived from the Luo word "okodhi," which means "born at night." This suggests that the earliest individuals with this surname may have been born during the night hours.

The Luo people have a rich oral tradition dating back centuries, and the name Okoth likely has its roots in this historical lineage. However, due to the lack of written records from that era, it is challenging to pinpoint the exact origin and earliest known instances of the name's usage.

One of the earliest documented references to the name Okoth can be found in the writings of British colonial administrators in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These records often mentioned prominent Luo chiefs and elders, some of whom bore the surname Okoth.

Notably, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga (1911-1994), a renowned Kenyan politician and former Vice President, carried the Okoth name as his middle name. He played a pivotal role in Kenya's struggle for independence and was a significant figure in the country's political landscape.

Another prominent individual with the Okoth surname was Bethwell Allan Ogot (1929-2015), a renowned Kenyan historian and academic. He made significant contributions to the study of African history and served as the Chancellor of Moi University in Kenya.

In the realm of literature, Okot p'Bitek (1919-1982) was a renowned Ugandan poet, writer, and social anthropologist. Although he did not bear the surname Okoth, his given name was derived from the same linguistic root, reflecting the cultural significance of the name within the Luo community.

Other notable figures with the Okoth surname include John Okoth Opondo (1914-1999), a Kenyan politician and leader of the Kenya African Democratic Union (KADU), and Okoth Obado, a contemporary Kenyan politician who has served as the Governor of Migori County since 2013.

While the surname Okoth has its origins rooted in the Luo culture of western Kenya and eastern Uganda, it has undoubtedly spread beyond its traditional geographic boundaries over time. However, the historical and cultural significance of this name remains deeply intertwined with the Luo people and their rich heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Okoth

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

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 Okoth 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.

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

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

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