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

Opoku, 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 Opoku surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Opoku in America

Opoku is the 21330th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Opoku surname appeared 1,228 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 Opoku.

We can also compare 2010 data for Opoku 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 Opoku

The surname Opoku originated from the Akan people of Ghana in West Africa. It is believed to have roots dating back as far as the 13th century during the time of the great ancient Akan empire. Opoku is derived from the Twi language spoken by the Akan and means "hunter" or "brave warrior".

The name Opoku was commonly found among the Ashanti people, one of the major Akan subgroups. Historical records indicate that several Ashanti warriors and chiefs bore this surname, reflecting their prowess and courage in battle. One notable example is Opoku Ware I, the famous Ashanti ruler who reigned from 1720 to 1750 and expanded the Ashanti empire through military conquest.

Ancient Akan oral traditions and folklore often mention individuals with the name Opoku, depicting them as skilled hunters and fearless warriors. The name was held in high regard and bestowed upon those who exhibited bravery, strength, and leadership qualities.

In the 19th century, during the colonial era, several Opokus were recorded in British and Dutch colonial records, reflecting the interactions between European powers and the Akan people. One such individual was Opoku Agyeman, a prominent Ashanti chief who played a significant role in the Anglo-Ashanti wars of the late 1800s.

Other notable historical figures with the surname Opoku include Opoku Ampomah, a renowned Ashanti linguist and scholar in the early 20th century, and Opoku Frefre, a respected Ghanaian diplomat and statesman who served as the country's first ambassador to the United Nations after independence.

While the name Opoku is primarily associated with the Akan people of Ghana, it has also been adopted by other ethnic groups in West Africa, particularly those with cultural ties to the Akan. Over time, the name has spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Opoku

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

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

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

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