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

Owoeye, 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 Owoeye surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Owoeye in America

Owoeye is the 150452nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Owoeye surname appeared 109 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 Owoeye.

The history of the last name Owoeye

The surname OWOEYE originates from the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. It is a combination of two Yoruba words: "Owo" meaning "money" or "wealth," and "Eye" meaning "life." The name likely emerged during the 15th to 16th centuries when the Yoruba kingdom of Oyo was at its peak.

The earliest known records of the OWOEYE surname can be found in historical manuscripts from the Oyo Empire, which ruled over a vast territory in present-day southwestern Nigeria and parts of Benin. These manuscripts, written in the Ajami script (a modified Arabic alphabet used for writing the Yoruba language), document various families and their lineages.

One notable historical figure bearing the OWOEYE surname was Chief Owoeye Ayinla, a prominent merchant and landowner who lived in the late 18th century. He was known for his wealth and influence in the city of Oyo-Ile, the capital of the Oyo Empire at the time.

Another prominent individual was Oba (King) Owoeye Abiodun, who ruled over the town of Iwo in the early 19th century. He was respected for his wisdom and fair governance during a period of political turmoil in the region.

In the 19th century, the OWOEYE surname also appeared in records from the Egba people, a Yoruba sub-group based in the city of Abeokuta. One notable figure was Chief Owoeye Ogundipe, a successful trader and influential leader in the Egba community during the late 1800s.

Additionally, the OWOEYE surname can be traced back to the town of Owo in present-day Ondo State, Nigeria. This town was once a prominent center of trade and commerce, and it is possible that the name originated from this area, with variations such as "Owoye" or "Owoeye" emerging over time.

Another historical figure of note was Reverend Samuel Owoeye, a pioneering Yoruba Christian missionary who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He played a significant role in spreading Christianity among the Yoruba people and translating religious texts into the Yoruba language.

While the OWOEYE surname is primarily associated with the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria, it has also been documented in other parts of West Africa, likely due to migration and trade networks. However, the earliest recorded instances and historical references point to its origins among the Yoruba kingdoms of present-day Nigeria.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Owoeye

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

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

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

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