Osuagwu
A surname indicating the person's ancestral origin from the Igbo ethnic group of Nigeria.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 206 Americans carry the last name Osuagwu. That puts it at #104,156 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.06 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,663,856 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Osuagwu surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
206
1 in 1,663,856
Census rank
#104,156
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
172
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 172 bearers of the surname Osuagwu in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.06 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 104156th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Osuagwu, the largest self-reported group is Black at 97.1%.
Origin
Meaning and origin of Osuagwu
The surname "OSUAGWU" has its origins in the Igbo ethnic group of Nigeria. It can be traced back to the late 15th century and the early 16th century when the Igbo people established their settlements in the present-day southeastern part of Nigeria. The name is derived from the Igbo language, with "osu" meaning "source" or "origin" and "agwu" meaning "god" or "deity."
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname "OSUAGWU" can be found in the accounts of Portuguese traders who visited the coastal regions of southeastern Nigeria in the 16th century. These traders documented their interactions with the Igbo people and their local chieftains, some of whom bore the surname "OSUAGWU."
In the 18th century, the name "OSUAGWU" appears in the records of the British colonial administration in Nigeria, particularly in the areas of present-day Anambra and Enugu states. These records often listed individuals with the surname "OSUAGWU" as landowners, traders, or village elders.
One notable figure with the surname "OSUAGWU" was Nnamdi Osuagwu (1890-1965), a prominent Nigerian entrepreneur and businessman who played a significant role in the development of the palm oil industry in the early 20th century. Another individual of historical significance was Chinyere Osuagwu (1923-2002), a pioneering Nigerian educator and women's rights activist who advocated for equal educational opportunities for girls and women.
In the realm of literature, the name "OSUAGWU" is associated with Chukwuemeka Osuagwu (1932-2011), a renowned Igbo novelist and poet whose works explored the cultural richness and complexities of Igbo society. His seminal novel, "The Endless Circle," published in 1968, is considered a classic of Nigerian literature.
One of the earliest recorded spellings of the surname "OSUAGWU" can be found in the records of the Royal Niger Company, a British company that operated in Nigeria in the late 19th century. In these records, the name is sometimes spelled as "Osuagwuh" or "Osuagwuh," reflecting the variations in the romanization of Igbo names by European traders and administrators.
Throughout history, the surname "OSUAGWU" has been associated with various place names in southeastern Nigeria, particularly in the areas around Awka and Enugu. Some of these place names include Osuagwu Obalu, Osuagwu Ukwu, and Osuagwu Ufuma, which may have served as the historical origins or settlements of different branches of the Osuagwu family.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Osuagwu
Among Census respondents with the surname Osuagwu, the largest self-reported group is Black at 97.1%.
The bar chart below shows how Osuagwu bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Osuagwu surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American97.1%
- Unknown or suppressed2.9%
FAQ
Osuagwu surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Osuagwu?
The surname Osuagwu holds position #104,156 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 206 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.06 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Osuagwu surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Osuagwu, the largest self-reported group is Black at 97.1%. These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.