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

Poku, 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 Poku surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Poku in America

Poku is the 44423rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Poku surname appeared 484 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 Poku.

We can also compare 2010 data for Poku 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 Poku

The surname POKU has its origins in the West African nation of Ghana. It is believed to have emerged in the 16th century among the Akan people, who comprise a significant portion of the Ghanaian population. The name POKU is derived from the Akan word "poku," which translates to "plantation" or "farm."

In the early days of European colonization and exploration of West Africa, the POKU name appeared in records maintained by Portuguese and Dutch traders who established coastal settlements along the Gulf of Guinea. One of the earliest documented mentions of the name can be found in a Portuguese logbook from 1612, which refers to a local chief named Kwesi POKU.

The POKU surname is rooted in the Akan tradition of naming children after the circumstances surrounding their birth or the day of the week they were born. It is speculated that the name POKU was initially given to individuals born on a plantation or farm, or perhaps during the planting or harvesting seasons.

Notable individuals bearing the POKU surname include:

1. Kwame POKU (1902-1982), a Ghanaian educationist and politician who played a significant role in the country's independence movement.

2. Kofi POKU (1938-2005), a renowned Ghanaian sculptor and artist whose works are displayed in various galleries and museums around the world.

3. Abena POKU (born 1965), a Ghanaian-American author and professor of literature, known for her contributions to the study of African diaspora literature.

4. Kwasi POKU (born 1974), a former professional footballer who represented Ghana at the international level and played for clubs in Europe and Asia.

5. Akua POKU (born 1985), a Ghanaian entrepreneur and philanthropist, recognized for her efforts in promoting women's empowerment and education in rural communities.

The POKU name has also been associated with various place names in Ghana, such as Poku Village, located in the Ashanti Region, and Poku Estates, a residential area in the capital city of Accra.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Poku

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

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

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

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