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

Oladeji, 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 Oladeji surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Oladeji in America

Oladeji is the 159712th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Oladeji surname appeared 101 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 Oladeji.

The history of the last name Oladeji

The surname Oladeji originates from the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. It is a compound name derived from the Yoruba words "ola" meaning wealth or fortune, and "deji" meaning to wake up or become prosperous. Together, Oladeji can be interpreted as "wealth/fortune has awakened" or "prosperous awakening".

The earliest known references to the name Oladeji date back to the 16th century during the height of the Oyo Empire, one of the most powerful Yoruba kingdoms in what is now modern-day Nigeria. It is believed that the name was initially bestowed upon individuals who experienced a significant increase in wealth or status, signifying a "prosperous awakening" in their lives.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Oladeji can be found in the oral traditions and historical accounts of the Oyo Empire. It is mentioned in connection with a prominent military leader who played a crucial role in the expansion of the empire during the reign of the Alafin (king) Ajagbo in the late 16th century.

Over the centuries, the Oladeji surname has been associated with various notable figures in Yoruba history and culture. In the early 19th century, Chief Oladeji Adeyemi was a renowned leader and diplomat who played a significant role in negotiating peace treaties between the Oyo Empire and neighboring kingdoms.

Another prominent figure bearing the Oladeji surname was Reverend Samuel Ajayi Oladeji, a pioneering Christian missionary and educator who lived in the late 19th century. He was instrumental in establishing several schools and churches in southwestern Nigeria, contributing to the spread of education and Christianity in the region.

In the 20th century, Chief Adebayo Oladeji was a prominent politician and advocate for self-governance in Nigeria during the country's struggle for independence from British colonial rule. He served as a member of the Nigerian Legislative Council and played an influential role in shaping the nation's political landscape.

During the same period, renowned artist and sculptor Oladeji Adeyemi gained international recognition for his intricate wood carvings and sculptures that depicted various aspects of Yoruba culture and mythology.

Today, the Oladeji surname continues to be widely recognized and respected within the Yoruba community and across Nigeria, with many individuals bearing this name making significant contributions in various fields, including politics, academia, business, and the arts.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Oladeji

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!