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

Phiri, 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 Phiri surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Phiri in America

Phiri is the 67747th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Phiri surname appeared 291 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 Phiri.

The history of the last name Phiri

The surname Phiri is believed to have originated in Malawi, a country located in southeastern Africa. It is a name of Bantu origin, which is a linguistic group comprising several ethnic groups in sub-Saharan Africa. The name Phiri is derived from the Chichewa word 'phiri,' which translates to 'hill' or 'mountain.'

In the early 19th century, the Phiri name was predominantly found in the central and southern regions of Malawi, particularly among the Chewa and Ngoni ethnic groups. These groups were known for their agricultural practices and often settled in areas with fertile lands and proximity to water sources, including hills and mountains.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Phiri name can be found in the writings of David Livingstone, a Scottish missionary and explorer who traveled extensively in Africa during the mid-19th century. Livingstone's journals and records document his encounters with individuals bearing the Phiri name during his explorations in the region now known as Malawi.

Notable individuals with the Phiri surname include Hastings Kamuzu Banda (1898-1997), a Malawian statesman and leader of the independence movement who served as the first President of Malawi from 1966 to 1994. Another prominent figure was Dunduzu Chisiza Phiri (1933-1986), a Malawian writer and educator who contributed significantly to the development of Chichewa literature.

Other historical figures with the Phiri surname include Yohane Phiri (1895-1983), a Malawian religious leader and founder of the Providence Industrial Mission, and Thandika Phiri Mkandawire (1940-2020), a Malawian economist and scholar who served as the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.

The Phiri name has also been associated with various place names in Malawi, such as Phiri Village, Phiri Hills, and Phiri Mountain, reflecting the connection between the name and the geographical features of the region.

As the Malawian diaspora spread to other parts of Africa and beyond, the Phiri name has become more widely recognized, with individuals bearing this surname making contributions in various fields, including academia, arts, and sports.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Phiri

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

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

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

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