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

Rotimi, 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 Rotimi surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rotimi in America

Rotimi is the 146201st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rotimi surname appeared 113 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 Rotimi.

The history of the last name Rotimi

The surname "ROTIMI" has its origins in the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. It is believed to have emerged during the 16th century in the region that is now the modern-day states of Oyo and Osun.

The name "ROTIMI" is derived from the Yoruba words "ro" meaning "to walk" and "timi" meaning "to be revered or exalted". Thus, the name can be translated to mean "one who walks with reverence or exaltation".

Historical records indicate that the name first appeared in written form in the 17th century, when it was mentioned in oral traditions and local folklore passed down through generations of Yoruba elders and griots.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "ROTIMI" can be found in a collection of Yoruba proverbs and sayings compiled in the late 18th century by a British missionary named Samuel Ajayi Crowther, who later became the first African bishop in the Anglican Church.

Notable individuals with the surname "ROTIMI" include Rotimi Adebari, a Nigerian politician and lawyer who served as the Governor of Kwara State from 1983 to 1987. Another prominent figure is Rotimi Amaechi, a Nigerian politician who has served as the Minister of Transportation since 2015.

In the realm of entertainment, Rotimi Alakija, born in 1971, is a Nigerian actress, singer, and songwriter who has appeared in various Nollywood films and television series. Rotimi Rainwater, born in 1973, is a Native American actor and motivational speaker of Muscogee Creek and Cherokee descent.

The surname "ROTIMI" has also been carried by academic and literary figures, such as Rotimi Fani-Kayode, a Nigerian poet and essayist who was active in the 1960s and 1970s, and Rotimi Babatunde, a Nigerian writer and academic who has authored several books on Yoruba culture and literature.

While the name "ROTIMI" is primarily associated with the Yoruba people of Nigeria, it has also found its way into other parts of West Africa, particularly in countries with significant Yoruba populations, such as Benin and Togo.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rotimi

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

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

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

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