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

Oluwole, 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 Oluwole surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Oluwole in America

Oluwole is the 85357th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Oluwole surname appeared 219 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 Oluwole.

We can also compare 2010 data for Oluwole 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 Oluwole

The surname OLUWOLE originated in the Yoruba ethnic group of southwestern Nigeria. It is a combination of two Yoruba words: "Olu" meaning "owner" or "lord", and "wole" meaning "wealth" or "riches". Thus, OLUWOLE translates to "owner of wealth" or "lord of riches".

The earliest known records of the OLUWOLE surname date back to the 16th century in the Kingdom of Oyo, one of the most powerful Yoruba states in pre-colonial Nigeria. The name was borne by prominent families and individuals who held influential positions in the Oyo society.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the OLUWOLE surname was Abiodun OLUWOLE, a respected warrior and advisor to the Alaafin (king) of Oyo in the late 16th century. He played a crucial role in defending the kingdom against external threats and expanding its territories.

In the 18th century, the OLUWOLE name gained further prominence with the rise of Bashorun Gaha OLUWOLE, a powerful military leader and statesman in the Oyo Empire. He served as the Bashorun (prime minister) under the reign of Alaafin Abiodun and played a pivotal role in the empire's governance and military campaigns.

Another notable figure was Lamuye OLUWOLE, a renowned trader and merchant in the 19th century. He established successful trade routes across West Africa, contributing to the economic prosperity of the Oyo region.

During the colonial era, the OLUWOLE surname continued to be associated with influential families and individuals. One such person was Chief Samuel Ladipo OLUWOLE, a prominent businessman and philanthropist in the early 20th century. He founded several schools and supported educational initiatives in Oyo.

In more recent times, the OLUWOLE name has been carried by academics, professionals, and public figures. Dr. Adekunle OLUWOLE, born in 1932, was a respected scholar and historian who made significant contributions to the study of Yoruba culture and history.

The OLUWOLE surname has also been found in various place names within the Yoruba-speaking regions of Nigeria, such as Oluwole Village in Oyo State and Oluwole Quarters in Ibadan, further attesting to its deep-rooted historical significance in the area.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Oluwole

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

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

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

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