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

Sonko, 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 Sonko surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sonko in America

Sonko is the 82613th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sonko surname appeared 228 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 Sonko.

The history of the last name Sonko

The surname Sonko is thought to have originated in the region of West Africa, specifically in the modern-day country of Senegal. It is believed to have emerged sometime in the 16th or 17th century, during a period when many ethnic groups in the area were establishing distinct cultural identities and surnames.

One theory suggests that Sonko is derived from the Wolof language, which is spoken by the Wolof people, the largest ethnic group in Senegal. The name may have its roots in the Wolof word "sonk," which means "to be brave" or "to be strong." This could indicate that the surname was initially bestowed upon individuals who displayed exceptional courage or physical prowess.

While there are no definitive records of the earliest appearance of the Sonko surname, some scholars speculate that it may have been mentioned in oral traditions or manuscripts from the region during the 17th or 18th centuries. However, concrete written evidence of the name's usage remains elusive from this early period.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Sonko surname can be found in the writings of French explorer and ethnographer Henri Labouret, who conducted extensive research on the Wolof people in the early 20th century. In his work, Labouret mentions individuals with the surname Sonko, indicating that the name was already well-established within the Wolof community by that time.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Sonko surname. One such figure is Ousmane Sonko, a contemporary Senegalese politician and leader of the Pastef-Les Patriotes party, who was born in 1974. Another prominent Sonko is Cheikh Ousmane Sonko, a Senegalese religious leader and prominent figure in the Mouride Brotherhood, a influential Sufi Muslim order in Senegal, who lived from the late 19th to early 20th century.

Other historically significant individuals with the Sonko surname include Djibril Sonko, a renowned Senegalese writer and poet from the mid-20th century, and Cheikh Anta Diop Sonko, a respected Senegalese historian and anthropologist who made significant contributions to the study of African history and culture in the 20th century. Additionally, Ousmane Sonko, a renowned Senegalese musician and griot (traditional oral historian and storyteller) from the 19th century, is also noteworthy.

While the Sonko surname may have humble origins, it has become an integral part of the cultural tapestry of Senegal and West Africa, representing a rich heritage and a testament to the resilience and strength of the region's people.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sonko

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

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

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

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