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

Sithole, 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 Sithole surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sithole in America

Sithole is the 126765th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sithole surname appeared 135 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 Sithole.

The history of the last name Sithole

The surname Sithole has its origins in South Africa, emerging in the late 19th century. It is a Nguni name derived from the word "isithole," which translates to "a hole" or "a pit" in the Zulu and Xhosa languages. The name likely referred to a physical feature, such as a person living near a notable hole or pit, or perhaps a metaphorical reference to their circumstances.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Sithole name appears in the 1891 census records of the Cape Colony, where a family with the surname is listed as residing in the Eastern Cape region. This region was home to many Xhosa and Zulu communities, further solidifying the name's Nguni roots.

In the early 20th century, the Sithole name gained prominence with the birth of Harry Gwala Sithole (1920-1975), a prominent South African trade unionist and political activist who played a significant role in the anti-apartheid struggle. Sithole was a member of the African National Congress (ANC) and spent several years imprisoned on Robben Island for his activism.

Another notable figure bearing the Sithole surname was Ndabaningi Sithole (1920-2000), a Zimbabwean nationalist and political leader who co-founded the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) in 1963. Sithole played a pivotal role in the fight for Zimbabwean independence from British colonial rule and served as the first President of the independent Zimbabwe from 1980 to 1987.

The Sithole name also has a connection to the literary world through the acclaimed South African writer and academic, Nozizwe Cynthia Sithole (1932-2008). Her works explored themes of identity, race, and social issues in apartheid-era South Africa, and she was recognized with numerous awards for her contributions to literature.

In the realm of sports, the Sithole name is associated with Wilfred Sithole (1964-2007), a Zimbabwean cricketer who played for the national team in the 1980s and 1990s. He was a skilled all-rounder and captained the team during his career.

Beyond these prominent individuals, the Sithole surname has likely been carried by countless other families and individuals throughout Southern Africa, each with their unique stories and connections to the name's origins and meaning.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sithole

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

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

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

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