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

Okoye, 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 Okoye surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Okoye in America

Okoye is the 22924th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Okoye surname appeared 1,116 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 Okoye.

We can also compare 2010 data for Okoye 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 Okoye

The surname Okoye originated in Nigeria, specifically among the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria. The name likely emerged in the 15th or 16th century, derived from the Igbo word "oko" meaning farmer or planter, and "ye" meaning person or individual. Thus, Okoye can be interpreted as a person or individual engaged in farming or planting activities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Okoye dates back to the 17th century, found in historical records of Igbo communities in the region now known as Anambra State, Nigeria. During this period, the name was often spelled in various ways, such as Okoeye, Okoye, or Okwoye, reflecting the fluidity of written forms in that era.

In the 19th century, the name Okoye appeared in several notable texts and manuscripts documenting the history and culture of the Igbo people. For example, the works of renowned Igbo scholar and writer Olaudah Equiano, who was born in Essaka (now in Anambra State) in 1745, mentioned individuals with the surname Okoye.

Notable individuals with the surname Okoye throughout history include:

1. Nnamdi Okoye (c. 1890-1965), a prominent Igbo chief and leader from Ogidi, Anambra State, who played a significant role in the socio-political affairs of his community during the colonial era.

2. Chike Okoye (1924-2007), a Nigerian diplomat and politician who served as the governor of Anambra State from 1979 to 1983.

3. Emeka Okoye (born 1952), a Nigerian artist and sculptor known for his intricate wooden sculptures depicting Igbo cultural themes and traditions.

4. Chinua Okoye (1936-2008), a Nigerian writer and poet, celebrated for his works exploring themes of identity, culture, and the human condition.

5. Ifeoma Okoye (born 1972), a Nigerian-American actress and filmmaker, best known for her roles in films such as "Daughters of Chibok" and "Gina's Journey."

While the surname Okoye has its roots in the Igbo communities of southeastern Nigeria, it has since spread across the country and beyond, carried by individuals and families of Igbo descent who have migrated to other parts of Nigeria and the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Okoye

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

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

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

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