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

Owusu, 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 Owusu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Owusu in America

Owusu is the 10837th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Owusu surname appeared 2,938 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Owusu.

We can also compare 2010 data for Owusu to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Owusu

The surname Owusu originates from Ghana in West Africa. It is an Akan family name that was prominent among the Ashanti people. The name is derived from the Twi word "owusu," which translates to "born on Sunday." This suggests that the name was likely given to children born on that day of the week.

Owusu can be traced back to the 17th century when the Ashanti Empire was at its peak. The name appeared in historical records and manuscripts documenting the kingdom's rulers and notable figures. One of the earliest known individuals with the surname was Nana Owusu Akyaw Panin, a prominent chief who lived in the late 17th century.

In the 18th century, the Owusu name was associated with several influential leaders within the Ashanti Empire. Osei Owusu Amankwatia, who ruled from 1720 to 1745, was a powerful and respected Asantehene (king). His reign was marked by territorial expansions and the consolidation of Ashanti dominance in the region.

Another notable figure with the Owusu surname was Nana Owusu Ansah, a renowned warrior and military strategist who lived in the late 18th century. He played a pivotal role in defending the Ashanti Kingdom against British colonial forces and is remembered for his bravery and tactical expertise.

In the 19th century, the Owusu name continued to be prominent in Ashanti society. One of the most famous individuals was Kofi Owusu Addo, a merchant and diplomat who facilitated trade relations between the Ashanti and European powers. He was born in 1820 and played a crucial role in negotiating treaties and fostering economic ties.

Another influential figure was Kwaku Owusu Agyeman, a traditional ruler and statesman who lived from 1840 to 1912. He was known for his diplomatic skills and efforts to maintain the autonomy of the Ashanti Kingdom during the colonial era.

Throughout history, the Owusu surname has been associated with various place names and locations within the Ashanti region, reflecting the name's deep roots in the area. Some examples include Owusu Ahenkro, Owusu Ananse, and Owusu Ansah, which were all towns or settlements named after individuals with the Owusu surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Owusu

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

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 Owusu 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.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Owusu has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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

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

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