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

Okula, 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 Okula surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Okula in America

Okula is the 73666th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Okula surname appeared 263 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 Okula.

We can also compare 2010 data for Okula 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 Okula

The surname OKULA has its origins in the West African region, specifically in present-day Nigeria. The name is believed to have emerged in the 16th century, derived from the Yoruba language spoken in southwestern Nigeria. It is thought to be a variant of the word "okun," which means "ocean" or "sea" in Yoruba.

During the era of the transatlantic slave trade, many Africans were forcibly brought to the Americas, carrying their cultural heritage, including their names. It is likely that the surname OKULA was introduced to the Caribbean and parts of South America through this tragic history.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname OKULA can be found in the archives of the Dutch West India Company, which oversaw the slave trade in the Caribbean region during the 17th and 18th centuries. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Okoula" and "Okouwla," reflecting the challenges of transcribing African names into European languages.

Historically, the name OKULA has been associated with several notable individuals. Olu Okula, a Nigerian writer and poet born in 1947, gained recognition for his works that explored themes of identity and cultural heritage. Another figure was Adewale Okula, a Nigerian politician and activist who played a significant role in the country's independence movement in the mid-20th century.

In the Caribbean, one can find references to individuals bearing the surname OKULA dating back to the 18th century. For example, Josefa Okula, a freed slave from the island of Curaçao, was recorded as a landowner in the late 1700s, a remarkable achievement for a person of her background during that era.

Another notable figure was Kwame Okula, a Ghanaian diplomat and scholar who served as an ambassador to several countries in the latter half of the 20th century. His contributions to promoting African unity and cultural awareness were widely recognized.

Lastly, in the realm of sports, Kofi Okula, a Ghanaian sprinter who competed in the 1960s and 1970s, was a prominent figure. He held national records in various track and field events and represented his country at multiple international competitions.

While the surname OKULA may not be among the most common globally, it carries a rich historical and cultural significance, reflecting the resilience and diversity of the African diaspora across continents.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Okula

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

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

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

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