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

Oparah, 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 Oparah surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Oparah in America

Oparah is the 144141st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Oparah surname appeared 115 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 Oparah.

The history of the last name Oparah

The surname OPARAH is believed to have originated in Nigeria, likely in the late 18th or early 19th century. It is thought to be derived from the Igbo language, where it may have been a nickname or a descriptive term related to physical characteristics or personal traits.

One possible origin of the name OPARAH is that it stems from the Igbo word "opara," which means "first male child" or "first son." This could suggest that the name was initially given to the firstborn son of a family, perhaps as a way to distinguish him or honor his role as the eldest male offspring.

Another theory suggests that OPARAH may be linked to the Igbo word "ọpara," which means "red" or "reddish-brown." In this case, the name could have been used to describe someone with reddish skin or hair, or perhaps someone who was associated with a particular geographic area known for its red or reddish-brown soil.

While there are no definitive historical records or manuscripts that document the earliest appearances of the surname OPARAH, it is reasonable to assume that it emerged within the Igbo communities of southeastern Nigeria during the late 18th or early 19th century.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname OPARAH was Nnanna Oparah (c. 1850-1925), a prominent Igbo trader and chief who lived in the town of Owerri in present-day Imo State, Nigeria. He was known for his entrepreneurial skills and his role in facilitating trade between Igbo communities and neighboring regions.

Another notable bearer of the surname OPARAH was Eze Oparah (1880-1958), a respected Igbo chief and community leader from the town of Mbaise, also in present-day Imo State. He was renowned for his wisdom and his efforts to preserve Igbo cultural traditions and values.

In the 20th century, one of the most prominent individuals with the surname OPARAH was Chief Emmanuel Oparah (1920-1998), a Nigerian politician and businessman. He served as a member of the Federal House of Representatives in Nigeria and was actively involved in promoting economic development in his home state of Imo.

Another notable figure with the surname OPARAH was Dr. Adiele Oparah (1935-2010), a Nigerian academic and scholar who made significant contributions to the study of African literature and culture. He held various academic positions at universities in Nigeria and the United States.

More recently, Chike Oparah (born 1977) is a Nigerian-American actor and filmmaker who has appeared in several television shows and movies, including "Watchmen" and "Fargo." He has been recognized for his work in promoting diversity and representation in the entertainment industry.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Oparah

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

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

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

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