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

Onifade, 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 Onifade surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Onifade in America

Onifade is the 160975th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Onifade surname appeared 100 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 Onifade.

The history of the last name Onifade

The surname Onifade originated in the Yoruba ethnic group of southwestern Nigeria. It is derived from the Yoruba words 'Oni,' meaning 'owner' or 'lord,' and 'fade,' meaning 'honor' or 'respect.' Therefore, Onifade can be translated to mean 'the honored one' or 'the respected lord.'

The Yoruba people have a rich cultural heritage, and their naming traditions often reflect societal values and aspirations. The name Onifade likely emerged in the 17th or 18th century during the height of the Oyo Empire, which was a prominent Yoruba kingdom known for its military strength and expansionist policies.

One of the earliest known references to the name Onifade can be found in the oral histories and folktales of the Yoruba people. These stories often featured individuals with this surname as respected leaders, warriors, or elders within their communities.

In the 19th century, the name Onifade appeared in written records and historical documents related to the Yoruba people. For instance, Madam Tinubu Onifade (1817-1887), a prominent Yoruba businesswoman and aristocrat, was a significant figure in the history of Lagos and played a crucial role in the region's economic and political landscape.

Another notable figure bearing the surname Onifade was Chief Olumuyiwa Onifade (1920-2002), a Nigerian politician and traditional ruler who served as the Akarigbo (traditional ruler) of Remoland, a sub-group of the Yoruba people, from 1976 until his passing.

In the field of education, Professor Ayodeji Onifade (1940-2010) was a renowned Nigerian academic and administrator who served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, one of the most prestigious universities in Nigeria, from 1995 to 2000.

The Onifade family has also made significant contributions to the arts and culture of Nigeria. For example, Ayo Onifade (born 1954) is a celebrated Nigerian artist and sculptor whose works have been exhibited internationally and are held in numerous collections worldwide.

While the surname Onifade is primarily associated with the Yoruba people of Nigeria, it has also found its way into other parts of the world through migration and diasporic communities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Onifade

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

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 Onifade 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.

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

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

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