Olanna last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Olanna

A surname with roots in the Igbo language of Nigeria.

Olanna, 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 Olanna surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Olanna in America

Olanna is the 93125th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Olanna surname appeared 197 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 Olanna.

We can also compare 2010 data for Olanna 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 93125 117538 -23.18%
Count 197 137 35.93%
Proportion per 100k 0.07 0.05 33.33%

The history of the last name Olanna

The surname OLANNA has its origins in West Africa, specifically in the Igbo-speaking region of present-day Nigeria. It dates back to the early 19th century and is believed to have derived from the Igbo word "olu," meaning "voice" or "word," and "anna," meaning "person" or "individual."

The name OLANNA was likely first used to refer to individuals who were skilled orators, storytellers, or communicators within their communities. In the Igbo culture, oral traditions and the art of storytelling held significant cultural and social importance, and those with exceptional oratory skills were highly regarded.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname OLANNA can be found in the writings of colonial administrators and missionaries in the late 19th century. These records often documented the names of local chiefs, elders, and prominent community members.

In the early 20th century, a notable bearer of the OLANNA surname was Nnamdi Olanna, a renowned Igbo scholar and linguist who contributed significantly to the preservation and documentation of the Igbo language and cultural traditions. He was born in 1885 and dedicated his life to researching and recording Igbo folktales, proverbs, and oral histories.

Another prominent individual with the OLANNA surname was Adaku Olanna, a skilled weaver and textile artist who lived in the late 19th century. Her intricate and vibrant designs were highly sought after and were often used in traditional Igbo ceremonies and celebrations.

In the mid-20th century, Chike Olanna gained recognition as a talented musician and composer, known for incorporating elements of traditional Igbo music into his compositions. His works helped to preserve and promote the rich musical heritage of his people.

Towards the latter part of the 20th century, Nnenna Olanna made significant contributions to the field of education in Nigeria. As a renowned educator and advocate for children's rights, she established several schools and initiatives aimed at providing quality education to underprivileged children in rural areas.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have borne the surname OLANNA throughout history, each making notable contributions to their respective fields and communities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Olanna

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

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 Olanna was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 94.42% 186
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races (S)% (S)
Hispanic Origin 3.05% 6

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 Olanna has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White (S)% (S)% (S)%
Black (S)% 0.00% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 94.42% 94.89% -0.50%
Two or More Races (S)% 3.65% (S)%
Hispanic 3.05% (S)% (S)%

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

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

Reference this page

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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!

"Olanna last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 10, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/olanna-surname-popularity/.

"Olanna last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/olanna-surname-popularity/. Accessed 10 October, 2024

Olanna last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/olanna-surname-popularity/.

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