2010
#145,220
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 114
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Oyenuga
A Yoruba surname meaning "wealth has entered the house".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 216 Americans carry the last name Oyenuga. That puts it at #102,164 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.06 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,586,826 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Oyenuga surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
216
1 in 1,586,826
Census rank
#102,164
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
188
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 188 bearers of the surname Oyenuga in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.06 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 102164th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Oyenuga, the largest self-reported group is Black at 87.8%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (5.9%) and White (3.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Oyenuga
The surname Oyenuga originates from the Yoruba people of southwest Nigeria, with its roots dating back to the 16th century. The name is derived from the Yoruba phrase "Oye n'uga," which translates to "the day heralds good fortune." This name was likely given to children born on auspicious days or during significant events.
The earliest known records of the name Oyenuga can be found in the archives of the Oyo Empire, a prominent Yoruba kingdom that ruled from the late 16th to the early 19th century. The name appears in several historical documents, such as royal decrees and trade agreements, suggesting its prevalence among the nobility and merchant classes of that era.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Oyenuga was Adeyemi Oyenuga, a renowned trader from the city of Oyo, who lived in the late 17th century. He was known for his successful trade ventures across West Africa and his wealth, which allowed him to establish a prosperous trading empire.
Another notable figure bearing the name Oyenuga was Adeola Oyenuga, a skilled warrior and military strategist who served under the Alaafin (king) of Oyo in the early 18th century. He played a crucial role in several battles against rival kingdoms and was celebrated for his bravery and tactical prowess.
In the 19th century, Adebayo Oyenuga, a prominent farmer and landowner from the town of Iseyin, gained recognition for his innovative agricultural practices and contribution to the local economy. He was also respected as a wise elder and advisor in his community.
During the colonial era, the Oyenuga surname gained wider recognition with the rise of Oladimeji Oyenuga, a respected educator and advocate for Yoruba culture. Born in 1885, he dedicated his life to preserving and promoting the Yoruba language and traditions, publishing several books and establishing schools to teach the Yoruba way of life.
Another notable figure was Olajumoke Oyenuga, a renowned artist and sculptor born in 1920. Her intricate wood carvings and sculptures depicting Yoruba mythology and cultural scenes gained international acclaim, and her works are displayed in museums and galleries worldwide.
Throughout its history, the surname Oyenuga has been associated with individuals who have made significant contributions to the Yoruba culture, trade, military, agriculture, education, and arts. While its origins can be traced back to the 16th century, the name continues to hold significance and pride among its bearers today.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Oyenuga
Among Census respondents with the surname Oyenuga, the largest self-reported group is Black at 87.8%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (5.9%) and White (3.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Oyenuga bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Oyenuga surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American87.8% · 165
- Two or more races5.9% · 11
- White3.2% · 6
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.6% · 3
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.1% · 2
- Hispanic or Latino0.5% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Oyenuga
Oyenuga appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#102,164
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 188
+74 bearers (+64.9%)
Per 100,000 0.06
Rank movement Up 43,056 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #145,220 | 114 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #102,164 | 188 | 0.06 | +74 bearers (+64.9%) | Up 43,056 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Oyenuga surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #145,220 | #102,164 | 29.6% |
| Count | 114 | 188 | 64.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.06 | 57.2% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Oyenuga bearers went from 114 to 188 (+64.9% change). The surname moved up 43,056 positions in the national ranking, going from #145,220 to #102,164.
FAQ
Oyenuga surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Oyenuga?
Name Census estimates that about 216 living Americans carry the surname Oyenuga. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 1,586,826 residents.
How common is Oyenuga?
Oyenuga ranks #102,164 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.06 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 188 people with the surname Oyenuga. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (216), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.06 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.06 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Oyenuga.
Has Oyenuga become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Oyenuga went from 114 recorded bearers to 188. That is an increase of 74 (+64.9%). In the national ranking it rose from #145,220 to #102,164.
What does the Census say about the background of Oyenuga?
Among Census respondents with the surname Oyenuga, the largest self-reported group is Black at 87.8%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (5.9%) and White (3.2%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Black is the largest self-reported group for the surname Oyenuga in the 2020 Census, accounting for 87.8% (165 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Oyenuga appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Black (87.8%), Two or More Races (5.9%), White (3.2%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Oyenuga (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Oyenuga mean?
A Yoruba surname meaning "wealth has entered the house". The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Oyenuga (0.06 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Oyenuga?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.