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

Onyango, 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 Onyango surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Onyango in America

Onyango is the 54178th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Onyango surname appeared 381 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 Onyango.

We can also compare 2010 data for Onyango 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 Onyango

The surname Onyango originates from the Luo ethnic group in Kenya and parts of Uganda. Its roots can be traced back to the 17th century in the region around Lake Victoria. The name is derived from the Luo word "onyang'o," which means "born during the rainy season."

Historically, the Onyango name was prevalent among the Luo communities residing along the shores of Lake Victoria. Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in oral histories and genealogical accounts passed down through generations within these communities.

One of the earliest known individuals bearing the name Onyango was Onyango Dunde, a renowned Luo chief who lived in the late 18th century. He was revered for his leadership and wisdom in resolving conflicts among the Luo clans.

In the 19th century, Onyango Makagunga, a Luo trader and diplomat, played a significant role in facilitating trade and diplomatic relations between the Luo communities and the British colonial administration in East Africa.

During the 20th century, several notable figures emerged with the Onyango surname. Onyango Ayoo (1904-1987) was a prominent Luo politician and one of the first members of the Legislative Council in colonial Kenya, representing the interests of the Luo people.

Onyango Obbo (1914-1996), a Luo writer and educator, made significant contributions to the preservation of Luo culture and language through his literary works and advocacy for education.

Another prominent figure was Onyango Oloo (1920-2003), a Kenyan politician and trade unionist who played a pivotal role in Kenya's independence movement and the formation of the country's labor unions.

While the Onyango surname has its roots in the Luo communities of East Africa, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora. However, the name remains deeply rooted in its cultural and linguistic origins, reflecting the rich heritage of the Luo people.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Onyango

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

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

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

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