Osafo last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Osafo

A surname of Akan origin meaning "a child born on Saturday".

Osafo, 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 Osafo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Osafo in America

Osafo is the 95545th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Osafo surname appeared 191 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 Osafo.

The history of the last name Osafo

The surname "OSAFO" originates from Ghana, a country located in West Africa. It is an Akan name, specifically from the Twi language spoken by the Akan people. The name's roots can be traced back to the early 19th century.

The name "OSAFO" is believed to be derived from the Akan word "osafo," which means "warrior" or "brave one." This suggests that the name may have been originally given to individuals who displayed exceptional courage and bravery in battle or during times of conflict.

Historical records indicate that some of the earliest mentions of the name "OSAFO" can be found in documents and manuscripts from the Ashanti Kingdom, a powerful empire that ruled over parts of present-day Ghana and neighboring regions between the late 17th and late 19th centuries.

One notable individual with the surname "OSAFO" was Nana Osafo Kantanka, a prominent chief and military leader in the Ashanti Kingdom during the late 18th century. He was known for his strategic military prowess and played a crucial role in defending the Ashanti territories against opposing forces.

Another significant figure in Ghanaian history bearing the name "OSAFO" was Kwasi Osafo, a renowned scholar and educator who lived in the early 20th century. He made significant contributions to the preservation and promotion of Akan culture and language through his writings and teachings.

In the field of arts and culture, Efua Osafo was a celebrated Ghanaian writer and playwright who lived from 1924 to 1996. Her works, including plays and short stories, explored themes of cultural identity, tradition, and the role of women in Ghanaian society.

The name "OSAFO" has also been associated with various place names in Ghana, such as Osafo Nkwanta, a town located in the Ashanti Region, and Osafo Nyamekye, a village in the Central Region. These place names likely derived from individuals or families with the surname "OSAFO" who settled in or founded these areas.

While the name "OSAFO" has its roots in Ghana, it has also been adopted by individuals of Ghanaian descent living in other parts of the world, further spreading the legacy and significance of this name across different cultures and communities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Osafo

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

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 Osafo was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Black Only 95.81% 183
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 2.62% 5
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Osafo last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/osafo-surname-popularity/.

"Osafo last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/osafo-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 November, 2024

Osafo last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/osafo-surname-popularity/.

Search for a name

Search for a first or last name to learn more about its origin, meaning, and more.

Simple as that.