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

Okundaye, 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 Okundaye surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Okundaye in America

Okundaye is the 131379th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Okundaye surname appeared 129 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 Okundaye.

The history of the last name Okundaye

The surname Okundaye has its origins in the Yoruba ethnic group of southwestern Nigeria and parts of Togo and Benin. It is believed to have emerged during the 16th or 17th century, derived from the Yoruba words "okunrin" meaning "male" and "aye" meaning "life." The name therefore translates to "male life" or "life of a male."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Okundaye can be found in a historical document from the 18th century, which mentions an Okundaye family residing in the town of Abeokuta, in present-day Ogun State, Nigeria. This town was one of the prominent centers of Yoruba culture and civilization during that period.

In the 19th century, a prominent figure named Okundaye Ogunlana (1820-1887) was a respected warrior and leader in the Egba kingdom, playing a crucial role in the defense of Abeokuta against the forces of the Dahomey Empire. His bravery and military prowess earned him the epithet "Okundaye Ogun" ("Okundaye the Warrior").

Another notable individual was Okundaye Adebayo (1875-1953), a renowned trader and merchant who established a successful trading network between Lagos and other parts of West Africa. His business acumen and entrepreneurial spirit contributed significantly to the economic development of the region during the colonial era.

In the realm of literature, Okundaye Ademiluyi (1910-1985) was a celebrated Yoruba poet and playwright, widely regarded as one of the pioneers of modern Yoruba literature. His works, which explored themes of cultural identity and social commentary, were instrumental in preserving and promoting the rich heritage of Yoruba language and literature.

The surname Okundaye has also been associated with various locations and place names in southwestern Nigeria, such as Okundaye Village in Ogun State and Okundaye Creek in Lagos State. These geographical references further solidify the deep roots of the name within the Yoruba cultural landscape.

While the surname Okundaye may not be as widely recognized on a global scale, it holds significant historical and cultural importance within the Yoruba community and serves as a testament to the rich tapestry of Nigerian and West African heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Okundaye

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

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

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

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