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

Okyere, 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 Okyere surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Okyere in America

Okyere is the 44653rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Okyere surname appeared 481 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 Okyere.

We can also compare 2010 data for Okyere 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 Okyere

The surname OKYERE originates from Ghana in West Africa. It is an Akan name that is believed to have derived from the words "okyere" meaning "sender" or "messenger" and "okye" meaning "avenger" or "redeemer." The name likely emerged among the Akan people, a meta-ethnicity comprising various subgroups such as the Asante, Fante, and Bono, who have inhabited the present-day territories of Ghana and Ivory Coast for centuries.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname OKYERE can be traced back to the 17th century, during the height of the powerful Asante Empire. This period saw the rise of prominent Akan rulers, traders, and diplomats who may have borne the name. However, specific historical references to individuals with the surname OKYERE from that era remain scarce in available records.

One notable figure in more recent history was Nana Okyere Baffour, a respected chief and traditional ruler from the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Born in the late 19th century, he played a significant role in preserving the cultural heritage and traditions of the Asante people during the colonial era.

Another individual of note was Kwasi Okyere, a Ghanaian scholar and writer who lived from 1923 to 1998. He made significant contributions to the study of Akan language and literature, publishing several works that explored the rich cultural traditions of his people.

In the realm of sports, Emmanuel Okyere, a Ghanaian footballer who played as a defender, represented his country in international competitions during the late 20th century.

The surname OKYERE is also associated with certain place names in Ghana, such as Okyerekrom and Okyerekurom, which may have connections to the name's origins or historical settlements of individuals bearing the name.

While the surname OKYERE is predominantly found in Ghana, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and diasporic communities, carrying with it the rich cultural heritage and history of the Akan people.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Okyere

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

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

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

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