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

Sotamba, 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 Sotamba surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sotamba in America

Sotamba is the 137327th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sotamba surname appeared 122 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 Sotamba.

The history of the last name Sotamba

The surname Sotamba is believed to have originated in the West African region, specifically in the present-day country of Mali. Its roots can be traced back to the early 13th century during the height of the Mali Empire, a powerful medieval West African state that spanned a vast territory.

One of the earliest records of the name Sotamba can be found in the ancient Malian chronicles, where it is mentioned as a prominent family name among the local nobility. The name is thought to be derived from the Bambara language, which was widely spoken in the region at the time.

In the 14th century, the Sotamba family is recorded as having held significant influence and played a crucial role in the administration of the Mali Empire under the reign of Mansa Musa, one of the most renowned rulers of the empire. Oral traditions and historical accounts suggest that the Sotamba clan was highly respected for their wisdom, leadership, and contribution to the cultural and intellectual development of the region.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Sotamba was Mamadou Sotamba, a distinguished scholar and diplomat who lived in the late 13th century. His name is mentioned in several ancient manuscripts as a prominent figure in the court of the Mali Empire, renowned for his expertise in diplomacy and negotiation skills.

Another notable figure was Fanta Sotamba, a revered female leader and military strategist who lived in the 15th century. She is celebrated for her bravery and tactical prowess in defending the empire against external threats, earning her a place in the oral traditions of the Malian people.

In the 16th century, the name Sotamba is closely associated with the city of Timbuktu, a renowned center of learning and scholarship during the height of the Malian civilization. Scholars and historians of that era, such as Mahmoud Sotamba, a renowned mathematician and astronomer, contributed significantly to the intellectual and scientific advancements of the time.

As the Mali Empire declined in the late 16th century, the Sotamba family dispersed across West Africa, with some members settling in neighboring regions and countries. However, the name remained deeply rooted in the cultural heritage of the Malian people, serving as a reminder of their rich history and the contributions of their ancestors.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sotamba

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

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!