2010
#131,379
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 129
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Olagunju
A Yoruba surname originating from the compound words "Ola" meaning wealth and "Agun" meaning war or struggle.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 351 Americans carry the last name Olagunju. That puts it at #69,166 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.10 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 976,508 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Olagunju surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Olagunju with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
351
1 in 976,508
Census rank
#69,166
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
306
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 306 bearers of the surname Olagunju in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.10 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 69166th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Olagunju, the largest self-reported group is Black at 93.8%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.3%) and Hispanic (1.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Olagunju
The surname OLAGUNJU traces its origins to the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. The name is believed to have emerged in the 16th century from the Oyo Kingdom, one of the most powerful and influential kingdoms in Yorubaland.
The name OLAGUNJU is a combination of two Yoruba words: "Ola," meaning wealth or prosperity, and "Gunju," which refers to a specific type of walking stick or staff. It is speculated that the name may have been given to individuals who possessed wealth or held positions of authority, as the walking stick was a symbol of power and leadership in traditional Yoruba culture.
Among the earliest recorded instances of the name, OLAGUNJU appears in oral histories and narratives passed down through generations within the Oyo Kingdom. These stories often recount the exploits of notable warriors, chiefs, and leaders who bore the name.
One of the earliest documented references to the name OLAGUNJU can be found in the writings of Samuel Ajayi Crowther, a Yoruba explorer and linguist who lived in the 19th century. Crowther's works provide valuable insights into the culture and traditions of the Yoruba people, including the significance of names and their meanings.
Throughout history, several individuals with the surname OLAGUNJU have achieved prominence and recognition in various fields:
1. Adekunle OLAGUNJU (1914-1986), a Nigerian politician and educator who served as the Minister of Education in the Western Region of Nigeria during the 1960s.
2. Kehinde OLAGUNJU (born 1962), a Nigerian artist renowned for his vibrant and expressive paintings depicting Yoruba culture and traditions.
3. Adebola OLAGUNJU (born 1974), a Nigerian-British author and journalist whose works have explored themes of identity, migration, and cultural heritage.
4. Iyabo OLAGUNJU (born 1980), a Nigerian actress and producer who has starred in numerous Nollywood films and television series.
5. Babatunde OLAGUNJU (born 1985), a Nigerian entrepreneur and business leader who co-founded one of the country's fastest-growing technology companies.
While the name OLAGUNJU may have evolved over time and acquired various spellings or variations, its roots remain firmly grounded in the rich cultural heritage of the Yoruba people, serving as a testament to their historical significance and enduring legacy.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Olagunju
Among Census respondents with the surname Olagunju, the largest self-reported group is Black at 93.8%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.3%) and Hispanic (1.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Olagunju bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Olagunju surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American93.8% · 287
- Two or more races3.3% · 10
- Hispanic or Latino1.6% · 5
- White0.7% · 2
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.7% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Olagunju
Olagunju appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#69,166
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 306
+177 bearers (+137.2%)
Per 100,000 0.10
Rank movement Up 62,213 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #131,379 | 129 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #69,166 | 306 | 0.10 | +177 bearers (+137.2%) | Up 62,213 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Olagunju surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #131,379 | #69,166 | 47.4% |
| Count | 129 | 306 | 137.2% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.10 | 155.9% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Olagunju bearers went from 129 to 306 (+137.2% change). The surname moved up 62,213 positions in the national ranking, going from #131,379 to #69,166.
FAQ
Olagunju surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Olagunju?
Name Census estimates that about 351 living Americans carry the surname Olagunju. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 976,508 residents.
How common is Olagunju?
Olagunju ranks #69,166 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.10 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 306 people with the surname Olagunju. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (351), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.1 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.10 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Olagunju.
Has Olagunju become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Olagunju went from 129 recorded bearers to 306. That is an increase of 177 (+137.2%). In the national ranking it rose from #131,379 to #69,166.
What does the Census say about the background of Olagunju?
Among Census respondents with the surname Olagunju, the largest self-reported group is Black at 93.8%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.3%) and Hispanic (1.6%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Black is the largest self-reported group for the surname Olagunju in the 2020 Census, accounting for 93.8% (287 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Olagunju appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Black (93.8%), Two or More Races (3.3%), Hispanic (1.6%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Olagunju (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Olagunju mean?
A Yoruba surname originating from the compound words "Ola" meaning wealth and "Agun" meaning war or struggle. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Olagunju (0.10 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people are called Olagunju?
Find out how common the surname Olagunju is on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.