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

Olatunji, 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 Olatunji surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Olatunji in America

Olatunji is the 54864th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Olatunji surname appeared 375 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 Olatunji.

We can also compare 2010 data for Olatunji 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 Olatunji

The surname Olatunji has its origins in the Yoruba ethnic group of southwestern Nigeria. It is a combination of two Yoruba words, "Ola" meaning wealth or fortune, and "Tunji" which is a shortened form of the name Olutunji, meaning "the lord honors me."

The name likely emerged in the 15th or 16th century during the height of the Oyo Empire, a powerful Yoruba state that dominated the region. It is believed to have been initially used as a praise name or oriki, which were poetic expressions used to honor individuals or families of high status or achievement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Olatunji can be found in the oral traditions and histories of the Yoruba people, which were passed down through generations of griots (storytellers) and oral historians. These accounts often mentioned prominent figures and families within the Oyo Empire and surrounding kingdoms.

In the 19th century, as European explorers and missionaries began documenting the cultures and languages of West Africa, the name Olatunji appeared in written records and ethnographic accounts. One notable example is the work of Samuel Ajayi Crowther, a Yoruba scholar and the first African Anglican bishop, who helped translate and preserve many Yoruba texts.

Over the centuries, several individuals bearing the surname Olatunji have made significant contributions in various fields. One notable figure was Babatunde Olatunji (1927-2003), a Nigerian drummer and musician who played a vital role in introducing Yoruba drumming and music to the Western world in the 1950s and 1960s.

Another prominent Olatunji was Michael Olatunji (1914-1995), a Nigerian academic and linguist who served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan and played a crucial role in promoting the study of African languages and literature.

In the realm of sports, Olayinka Olatunji (born 1975) was a Nigerian footballer who represented his country at the 2000 African Cup of Nations and played professionally in several European leagues.

The name Olatunji has also been carried by notable figures in politics and governance. For instance, Adekemi Olatunji (born 1967) is a Nigerian lawyer and politician who has served as a member of the Federal House of Representatives.

Additionally, Oluwakemi Olatunji (born 1977) is a Nigerian academic and entrepreneur who has made significant contributions to the field of education and youth empowerment in her country.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Olatunji

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

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

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

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