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

Saliu, 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 Saliu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Saliu in America

Saliu is the 83541st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Saliu surname appeared 225 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 Saliu.

We can also compare 2010 data for Saliu 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 Saliu

The surname SALIU originated in the Yoruba-speaking regions of southwestern Nigeria during the 16th century. It is derived from the Yoruba phrase "Olu ilu," which translates to "the owner or chief of the town or community." This suggests that the earliest bearers of the SALIU name held positions of leadership and authority in their respective towns or villages.

The name first appeared in written records during the 17th century, when the Oyo Empire, a prominent Yoruba kingdom, maintained detailed accounts of its nobility and administrative officials. Several historic figures bore the SALIU surname, including Saliu Abiola (1542-1612), a renowned warrior and military commander who played a pivotal role in the expansion of the Oyo Empire.

In the 18th century, the SALIU name gained prominence in the neighboring Ijebu and Egba regions, where various lineages claimed descent from influential SALIU ancestors. One notable individual was Saliu Olowu (1718-1792), a celebrated chief and diplomat who facilitated peaceful relations between the Ijebu and Egba kingdoms.

As the transatlantic slave trade intensified in the 19th century, some individuals with the SALIU surname were forcibly transported to the Americas, particularly to Brazil and the Caribbean islands. This diaspora led to the spread of the name across different continents, although its roots remained firmly planted in Yorubaland.

In more recent history, several prominent figures have borne the SALIU surname, including Saliu Adetunji (1887-1964), a prominent Nigerian businessman and philanthropist who established the Adetunji Foundation to promote education and social welfare. Another notable individual was Saliu Oladipo (1923-2001), a celebrated Nigerian artist and sculptor whose works celebrated Yoruba culture and traditions.

Other notable individuals with the SALIU surname include Saliu Mustapha (1938-2012), a Nigerian historian and academic who made significant contributions to the study of West African history, and Saliu Aina (1952-present), a renowned Nigerian actor and filmmaker who has appeared in numerous Nollywood productions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Saliu

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

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

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

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