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

Owino, 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 Owino surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Owino in America

Owino is the 115639th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Owino surname appeared 151 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 Owino.

The history of the last name Owino

The surname "OWINO" is of Kenyan origin, specifically from the Luo ethnic group. It is believed to have originated in the 16th century, derived from the Luo word "winyo," which means "spear" or "to pierce." This suggests that the name may have been given to warriors or skilled hunters in the Luo community.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "OWINO" can be found in oral traditions and folk tales passed down through generations among the Luo people. These stories often featured individuals with this surname, portraying them as respected leaders, brave warriors, or skilled hunters within their communities.

In the 19th century, the name "OWINO" appeared in various missionary records and colonial documents, as the Luo people interacted with European missionaries and colonial administrators. These records provide insight into the spread and prevalence of the name during this period.

Notable individuals with the surname "OWINO" include:

1. Jaramogi Oginga Odinga (1911-1994), a prominent Kenyan politician and leader of the independence movement. He was the first Vice President of Kenya after the country gained independence in 1963.

2. Okot p'Bitek (1919-1982), a renowned Ugandan poet, writer, and scholar. He was considered one of the most influential African writers of the 20th century and made significant contributions to the preservation of Luo culture and literature.

3. Grace Onyango Owino (1930-2018), a Kenyan politician and women's rights activist. She was one of the first female members of the Kenyan parliament and played a crucial role in advocating for gender equality and women's empowerment.

4. Benson Owino Ethurah (born 1983), a Kenyan professional footballer who has played for various clubs in Kenya and South Africa.

5. Dr. Owino Opondo (born 1960), a Kenyan academic and author. He has served as the Director of the University of Nairobi's Institute of Anthropology, Gender, and African Studies, and has written extensively on Luo culture and history.

The surname "OWINO" has also been associated with various place names in Kenya and Uganda, particularly in areas with a significant Luo population. For example, Owinyo Village in Siaya County, Kenya, and Owino Market in Kampala, Uganda, are named after individuals or families with this surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Owino

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

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

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

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