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

Oppong, 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 Oppong surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Oppong in America

Oppong is the 30420th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Oppong surname appeared 768 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 Oppong.

We can also compare 2010 data for Oppong 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 Oppong

The surname Oppong has its origins in Ghana, West Africa, and is believed to date back to the 16th century or earlier. It is an Akan name, and the Akan people are one of the largest ethnic groups in Ghana. The name Oppong is derived from the Akan word "opong," which means "messenger" or "messenger of a chief."

The Oppong surname is most commonly found in the Ashanti region of Ghana, which was the center of the powerful Ashanti Empire in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Ashanti were known for their highly organized military and political system, and it is possible that the name Oppong was associated with messengers or envoys who played an important role in the empire's communication and diplomacy.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Oppong name can be found in the "Fante Confederacy Records," a collection of documents related to the Fante people of Ghana from the 17th and 18th centuries. These records mention an Oppong who served as a messenger and intermediary between the Fante and the British traders on the Gold Coast (now Ghana's coast).

Another notable historical figure with the Oppong surname was Osei Tutu Oppong, a prominent chief and military leader in the Ashanti Empire in the late 18th century. He played a significant role in the expansion and consolidation of the empire during his reign.

In the 19th century, there are records of an Oppong family from the town of Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti Empire. This family was known for their involvement in traditional Ashanti crafts and arts, particularly in the production of the iconic Kente cloth.

One of the most famous Oppongs in modern times was Kofi Abrefa Oppong, a Ghanaian writer and scholar who lived from 1915 to 1987. He made significant contributions to the study of Akan culture, language, and literature, and was a prominent figure in the preservation of Ghanaian cultural heritage.

Another notable Oppong was Nana Kodwo Oppong, a Ghanaian businessman and philanthropist who lived from 1929 to 2016. He was the founder of the Oppong Group, a successful conglomerate with interests in various sectors, and was also known for his philanthropic efforts in education and healthcare.

In summary, the surname Oppong has a rich history rooted in the Akan culture of Ghana, with connections to the powerful Ashanti Empire and its traditional systems of communication and governance. It has been carried by notable figures in various fields throughout the centuries, including chiefs, military leaders, scholars, and entrepreneurs, reflecting the diversity and significance of this name within Ghanaian society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Oppong

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

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

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

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