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

Oyewole, 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 Oyewole surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Oyewole in America

Oyewole is the 78316th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Oyewole surname appeared 244 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 Oyewole.

We can also compare 2010 data for Oyewole 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 Oyewole

The surname OYEWOLE originated from the Yoruba ethnic group in present-day southwestern Nigeria. It emerged during the 15th century, which coincides with the establishment of the Oyo Empire. The name is derived from the Yoruba words "oye," meaning "to bless," and "wole," meaning "to arrive." Therefore, OYEWOLE can be interpreted as "a blessed arrival."

The earliest known recorded instance of the surname OYEWOLE can be traced back to a 16th-century manuscript detailing the genealogy of the Oyo royal family. This document mentions an individual named Oyewole, who was a prominent figure in the Oyo Empire during that era.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname OYEWOLE. One such person was Oba Oyewole Atiba, who ruled the Oyo Empire from 1774 to 1796. He was known for his military prowess and for expanding the empire's territories.

Another prominent figure was Reverend Samuel Adetu Oyewole (1845-1912), who was one of the first Yoruba Christian missionaries. He played a significant role in translating the Bible into the Yoruba language and in spreading Christianity throughout southwestern Nigeria.

In the realm of literature, Oladele Oyewole (1932-2022) was a renowned Nigerian poet and playwright. He was celebrated for his contributions to the development of Yoruba literature and for his efforts in preserving the Yoruba cultural heritage.

Adekunle Oyewole (born 1939) is a notable American poet and activist. He is a founding member of the influential spoken word and music collective, The Last Poets, which played a pivotal role in the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s and 1970s.

Another individual of note is Olusola Oyewole (born 1963), a Nigerian-American artist and educator. Her work explores themes of identity, cultural exchange, and the African diaspora experience through various mediums, including painting, sculpture, and mixed media installations.

It is important to note that while the surname OYEWOLE originated within the Yoruba ethnic group in Nigeria, it has since been adopted by individuals from various cultural backgrounds and nationalities around the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Oyewole

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

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

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

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