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

Owuor, 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 Owuor surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Owuor in America

Owuor is the 139228th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Owuor surname appeared 120 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 Owuor.

The history of the last name Owuor

The surname OWUOR has its origins in the Luo community of Kenya, an ethnic group concentrated in the Nyanza region near Lake Victoria. The name is believed to have emerged in the 17th or 18th century, derived from the Luo language.

While the exact etymology of OWUOR is unclear, it is thought to be related to the Luo word "owuor," meaning "born at night." This suggests that the surname may have been originally bestowed upon individuals born during the night hours, reflecting the cultural significance of birth circumstances in traditional Luo naming practices.

Some of the earliest documented references to the OWUOR surname can be found in colonial-era records and anthropological studies of the Luo people conducted by European researchers and missionaries in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These sources provide valuable insights into the historical use and distribution of the name within the Luo community.

One notable bearer of the OWUOR surname was Odera Owuor, a Luo chief and influential figure in the late 19th century. He played a pivotal role in negotiating land agreements with British colonial authorities and is remembered for his efforts to preserve Luo cultural traditions during a period of rapid societal change.

Another prominent individual with the OWUOR surname was Olara Owuor, a Luo elder and respected traditional healer who lived in the early 20th century. His extensive knowledge of medicinal plants and traditional healing practices was documented by anthropologists, providing a valuable record of Luo folk medicine.

In the realm of literature, Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor is a contemporary Kenyan author and playwright of Luo descent. Her debut novel, "Dust," published in 2014, received critical acclaim and won several prestigious literary awards, including the Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Literature.

While the OWUOR surname is primarily associated with the Luo community in Kenya, it has also gained recognition beyond its regional origins. For instance, Dr. John Owuor was a prominent Kenyan diplomat and scholar who served as the Secretary-General of the Preferential Trade Area for Eastern and Southern African States from 1981 to 1986.

Throughout its history, the OWUOR surname has maintained a strong connection to its Luo roots, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and traditions of this vibrant East African community.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Owuor

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

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

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

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