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

Olayinka, 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 Olayinka surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Olayinka in America

Olayinka is the 95115th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Olayinka surname appeared 192 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 Olayinka.

We can also compare 2010 data for Olayinka 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 Olayinka

The surname Olayinka originates from the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. It dates back to at least the 15th century, during the height of the Oyo Empire. The name is a combination of the Yoruba words "Ola" meaning wealth or honor, and "Iyinka" meaning mother has brought this.

Olayinka was likely first used as a personal name given to children to express gratitude for their birth and the joy they brought to the family. Over time, it transitioned into a hereditary surname passed down through generations. Early spellings included Olayingka, Olaingka, and Olainka.

References to the name Olayinka can be found in historical accounts and records of the Oyo Empire, particularly in the Alaafin Royal Court chronicles from the 16th and 17th centuries. These mention several notable individuals with the surname, such as Olayinka Abiodun, a respected adviser to the Alaafin (King) in the late 1600s.

Another early example is Olayinka Idowu, a skilled warrior and military commander who led the Oyo forces to victory against the neighboring Nupe Kingdom in the early 1700s. His exploits were recorded in the oral histories passed down through generations of Yoruba griots (storytellers).

In the 19th century, Olayinka Ogboju was a prominent merchant and trader who established trade routes between the Oyo Empire and the coastal regions, facilitating the exchange of goods and cultural influences. His legacy is still celebrated in parts of modern-day Ogun State.

During the colonial era, Olayinka Dada was a notable figure who advocated for the preservation of Yoruba culture and traditions in the face of European influences. He played a key role in the establishment of the first Yoruba-language school in Abeokuta in the late 1800s.

In more recent history, Olayinka Oyelami was a respected educator and author who wrote extensively on Yoruba history and folklore in the mid-20th century. Her works continue to be widely studied and referenced.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Olayinka

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

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

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

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