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

Onyejekwe, 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 Onyejekwe surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Onyejekwe in America

Onyejekwe is the 154907th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Onyejekwe surname appeared 105 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 Onyejekwe.

The history of the last name Onyejekwe

The surname ONYEJEKWE is of Nigerian origin, specifically from the Igbo ethnic group. It is a combination of two words in the Igbo language: "Onye" meaning "person" and "Jekwe" meaning "to share or divide."

The name likely originated in the pre-colonial era when Igbo communities were organized around extended family compounds and shared resources. ONYEJEKWE may have been a title given to someone who played a prominent role in distributing or allocating resources within the community.

While there are no known historical records or manuscripts that mention the name ONYEJEKWE from ancient times, it is a name deeply rooted in Igbo culture and tradition. The earliest known bearers of this name were likely members of influential Igbo families or clans in the 17th or 18th centuries.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname ONYEJEKWE was Nnamdi ONYEJEKWE, a prominent Igbo trader and merchant who lived in the late 19th century. He was known for his extensive trading networks across West Africa and his involvement in the palm oil trade.

Another notable bearer of the name was Chinua ONYEJEKWE, a renowned Igbo writer and playwright born in 1920. His works explored themes of cultural identity, colonialism, and the struggle for independence in Nigeria. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential African writers of the 20th century.

In the realm of academia, Nwando ONYEJEKWE was a pioneering scholar and professor of Igbo language and literature. Born in 1935, she dedicated her career to preserving and promoting Igbo cultural heritage through her research and teaching.

In the field of law, Chukwuma ONYEJEKWE was a prominent Nigerian lawyer and human rights activist. Born in 1948, he played a significant role in advocating for civil liberties and democratic reforms in Nigeria during the military dictatorships of the 1970s and 1980s.

Lastly, Chinedu ONYEJEKWE was a celebrated Igbo musician and composer, born in 1960. His music blended traditional Igbo rhythms and melodies with contemporary styles, contributing to the preservation and promotion of Igbo musical heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Onyejekwe

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

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

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

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