Sarpong last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Sarpong

A surname of Akan origin meaning a hornbill, a type of bird.

Sarpong, 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 Sarpong surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sarpong in America

Sarpong is the 27303rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sarpong surname appeared 885 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 Sarpong.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sarpong 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 27303 50468 -59.57%
Count 885 389 77.86%
Proportion per 100k 0.30 0.14 72.73%

The history of the last name Sarpong

The surname Sarpong originates from the Akan people of Ghana in West Africa. It is believed to have emerged sometime in the 13th or 14th century during the rise of the powerful Ashanti Empire. The name Sarpong is derived from the Akan words "sɔr" meaning "battle" and "pɔŋ" meaning "survivor" or "victor".

In the early days, the name Sarpong was likely given to individuals who had distinguished themselves in battle or warfare. It may have been a title bestowed upon brave warriors or military leaders who had survived and triumphed in significant conflicts. The earliest known recordings of the name can be found in oral traditions and folklore passed down through generations of Akan storytellers and griots.

One of the earliest documented references to the name Sarpong comes from a 16th-century account by Portuguese explorer João de Barros, who described encounters with the Akan people during his travels in West Africa. In his writings, he mentions a powerful Akan chief named Sarpong who ruled over a vast territory in what is now modern-day Ghana.

Another notable figure bearing the name Sarpong was Nana Sarpong Kumankuma, a revered Akan ruler and military strategist who lived in the late 17th century. He is credited with leading his people to victory against invading forces and expanding the boundaries of the Ashanti Kingdom through his tactical brilliance on the battlefield.

In the 19th century, a prominent Akan historian and scholar named Osei Kwadwo Sarpong made significant contributions to preserving the rich cultural heritage and traditions of the Akan people. His writings and accounts provide valuable insights into the history and customs of the Ashanti Empire during that era.

During the early 20th century, a renowned Ghanaian educator and advocate for women's rights, Sophia Sarpong, played a pivotal role in establishing schools and promoting access to education for girls in the country. Her efforts paved the way for greater gender equality and empowerment in Ghanaian society.

Another noteworthy individual with the surname Sarpong was Kwame Sarpong, a celebrated Ghanaian musician and composer who lived from 1927 to 1992. He was renowned for his innovative fusion of traditional Akan rhythms with contemporary musical styles, and his compositions have left a lasting impact on the cultural landscape of Ghana.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sarpong

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

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 Sarpong was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 2.03% 18
Non-Hispanic Black Only 95.25% 843
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 1.58% 14
Hispanic Origin (S)% (S)

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 Sarpong has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 2.03% (S)% (S)%
Black 95.25% 94.34% 0.96%
Asian and Pacific Islander (S)% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% 0.00% (S)%
Two or More Races 1.58% 2.83% -56.69%
Hispanic (S)% 1.54% (S)%

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

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

Reference this page

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Sarpong last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/sarpong-surname-popularity/.

"Sarpong last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/sarpong-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 November, 2024

Sarpong last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/sarpong-surname-popularity/.

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