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

Onuoha, 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 Onuoha surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Onuoha in America

Onuoha is the 35147th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Onuoha surname appeared 641 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 Onuoha.

We can also compare 2010 data for Onuoha 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 Onuoha

The surname Onuoha is of Nigerian origin, specifically from the Igbo ethnic group. It is believed to have emerged in the 16th century or earlier in the southeastern region of present-day Nigeria. The name is derived from the Igbo words "onu" meaning "mouth" and "oha" meaning "community" or "town." This suggests that the name may have originated as a descriptive term referring to someone who was a spokesperson or leader in their community.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Onuoha can be found in the oral traditions and folklores of the Igbo people, which were later transcribed and preserved by colonial administrators and anthropologists in the 19th and early 20th centuries. These oral histories often mentioned individuals with the surname Onuoha, though exact dates and details are difficult to verify.

During the colonial era in Nigeria, the name Onuoha appeared in various administrative records and census documents compiled by the British authorities. However, these records were often incomplete or inaccurate due to the challenges of documenting names across diverse linguistic and cultural contexts.

Notable individuals with the surname Onuoha include:

1. Chika Onuoha (born 1949), a Nigerian academic and author known for her work on African literature and feminism.
2. Nnamdi Onuoha (1927-1995), a Nigerian politician and diplomat who served as the Minister of External Affairs in the 1970s.
3. Onyekachi Onuoha (born 1991), a Nigerian professional footballer who has played for several clubs in Europe and Africa.
4. Chukwuemeka Onuoha (1933-2012), a Nigerian artist and sculptor renowned for his bronze and terracotta works depicting Igbo culture and traditions.
5. Ugonna Onuoha (born 1985), a Nigerian-American basketball player who has played in various professional leagues around the world.

While the Onuoha surname has its roots in the Igbo culture of Nigeria, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins and significance remain deeply rooted in the history and traditions of the Igbo people.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Onuoha

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

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

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

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