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

Olaniyan, 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 Olaniyan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Olaniyan in America

Olaniyan is the 67318th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Olaniyan surname appeared 293 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 Olaniyan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Olaniyan 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 Olaniyan

The surname OLANIYAN is of Yoruba origin, tracing its roots back to the southwestern region of present-day Nigeria. It emerged during the early medieval period, around the 12th century CE, when the Yoruba people established their kingdoms and cities across the area known as Yorubaland.

OLANIYAN is derived from the combination of two Yoruba words, "ola" meaning wealth or prosperity, and "niyan" signifying someone who possesses or embodies these qualities. Thus, the name originally referred to an individual of affluence or someone blessed with abundant resources.

Historical records indicate that the name OLANIYAN first appeared in the oral traditions and written accounts of the Oyo Empire, one of the most powerful Yoruba kingdoms that flourished between the 16th and 19th centuries. It is believed that some of the earliest bearers of this name might have been prominent citizens or nobility within the Oyo Empire's hierarchy.

One of the earliest documented references to the name OLANIYAN can be found in the "Iwe Itan Oyo" (The Chronicle of Oyo), a historical manuscript compiled in the 18th century that recounts the exploits and lineages of the Oyo rulers and their subjects.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the surname OLANIYAN. One such figure was Oba Olaniyan Adeyemi (1733-1789), a powerful and influential ruler of the Oyo Empire. His reign was marked by territorial expansion and the consolidation of Oyo's dominance over neighboring kingdoms.

Another prominent bearer of the name was Madam Efunroye Tinubu Olaniyan (1810-1888), a wealthy and influential businesswoman from Abeokuta, who played a crucial role in the economic and political affairs of the Egba people during the 19th century.

In the realm of Yoruba literature, the poet and playwright Olaniyan Adeleke (1916-1988) made significant contributions to the preservation and promotion of Yoruba culture through his works, which explored themes of tradition, identity, and social commentary.

More recently, Chief Olaniyan Ogunwusi (1935-2018) was a respected leader and traditional ruler in the town of Ile-Ife, recognized for his efforts in promoting cultural heritage and sustainable development initiatives within his community.

Throughout the centuries, the surname OLANIYAN has also been found in various spellings and variations, such as Olaniyan, Olaniyanu, and Olaniyonu, reflecting the diverse dialects and regional influences within the Yoruba language and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Olaniyan

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

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

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

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