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

Osifo, 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 Osifo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Osifo in America

Osifo is the 127494th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Osifo surname appeared 134 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 Osifo.

The history of the last name Osifo

The surname OSIFO originated in Nigeria, specifically among the Edo people located in the present-day Edo State. It is believed to have emerged around the 15th century or earlier, during the height of the Benin Empire.

OSIFO is thought to be derived from the Edo word "osi," meaning "brave" or "courageous," combined with the suffix "fo," which denotes a person or group. Therefore, the name OSIFO could be interpreted as "the brave one" or "the courageous people."

In the early days of the Benin Empire, surnames were often given to individuals or families based on their characteristics, occupations, or accomplishments. The name OSIFO may have been bestowed upon a person or group known for their bravery in battle or their courageous acts.

While there are no known historical references to the name OSIFO in ancient manuscripts or records, it is likely that it was used within the Edo society during the reign of the Benin Empire, which lasted from the 13th to the 19th century.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the OSIFO surname can be found in the work of Samuel Ajayi Crowther, a renowned linguist and the first African Anglican bishop in Nigeria. In his translations of the Bible into the Edo language in the mid-19th century, he included references to individuals with the surname OSIFO.

Notable individuals with the OSIFO surname include:

1. Oba Ovonramwen Nogbaisi (1857-1914), the last Oba (King) of the Benin Empire, who was exiled by the British in 1897 after the Benin Massacre.
2. Chief Osionokha OSIFO (1870-1945), a prominent chief and leader in Edo society during the early 20th century.
3. Dr. Osagie OSIFO (1920-1985), a pioneering Nigerian physician and one of the first Edo people to obtain a medical degree.
4. Chief Akengbuan OSIFO (1935-2002), a traditional ruler and influential figure in the Edo community.
5. Professor Josephine OSIFO (1948-present), a renowned educator and academic who has made significant contributions to the field of linguistics in Nigeria.

While the surname OSIFO is primarily associated with the Edo people of Nigeria, it is possible that variations or similar spellings of the name may have emerged in other parts of West Africa due to cultural exchanges and migrations.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Osifo

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

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

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

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