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

Onyia, 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 Onyia surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Onyia in America

Onyia is the 79846th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Onyia surname appeared 238 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 Onyia.

We can also compare 2010 data for Onyia 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 Onyia

The surname Onyia originates from the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria, dating back to the 15th century or earlier. It is derived from the Igbo word "onyia," which translates to "the one who comes from" or "the one who is a native of." This suggests that the name was initially used to identify individuals based on their place of origin or ancestry.

Onyia is closely related to other Igbo surnames such as Onwia, Onyiah, and Onyiah, which share a similar etymology and meaning. These variations in spelling likely arose due to regional dialects and transcription differences over time.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Onyia surname can be found in the writings of the British explorer and missionary Samuel Ajayi Crowther, who documented his travels in the Niger Delta region in the mid-19th century. Crowther's accounts mention several individuals with the name Onyia, indicating its widespread usage among the Igbo people during that period.

Historically, the Onyia name has been associated with several notable figures. One such individual was Chief Nwankwo Onyia, a prominent Igbo leader and landowner in the late 19th century, who played a significant role in the establishment of the Onitsha Market, one of the largest markets in West Africa.

Another noteworthy bearer of the Onyia name was Dr. Okechukwu Onyia, a renowned Nigerian physician and academic who lived from 1921 to 2003. He served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and was widely respected for his contributions to medical education and research.

In the realm of literature, the Onyia surname is associated with the acclaimed Nigerian writer and scholar, Chinua Achebe (1930-2013). Although not his birth name, Achebe adopted the pen name "Albert Onyia" for his early works, drawing inspiration from the traditional Igbo naming practices.

Among other notable figures with the Onyia surname are Chinyere Onyia, a Nigerian-American fashion designer and entrepreneur who founded the clothing line OBIA Naturals, and Eze Onyia, a prominent Igbo traditional ruler and community leader in the early 20th century.

While the Onyia surname has its roots in Nigeria, it has since spread globally due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its historical significance remains deeply embedded in the cultural heritage and traditions of the Igbo people.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Onyia

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

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

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

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