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

Touré, 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 Touré surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Touré in America

Touré is the 13764th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Touré surname appeared 2,198 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Touré.

We can also compare 2010 data for Touré 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 Touré

The surname Toure has its origins in the West African nation of Mali, dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Bambara language, which is spoken by the Bambara people, one of the largest ethnic groups in Mali. The name is believed to have come from the Bambara word "tore," which means "elephant hunter" or "elephant keeper."

During the time of the Mali Empire, which flourished from the 13th to the 17th century, the Toure surname was associated with individuals who held positions of importance or authority. These individuals were often involved in the hunting or management of elephants, as elephants were highly valued for their ivory tusks and their use in warfare.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Toure name can be found in the chronicles of the Mali Empire, which mention a prominent military leader named Toure Kanda, who served under the famous ruler Mansa Musa in the early 14th century. Kanda was known for his bravery and skill in battle, and his exploits were celebrated in oral traditions and written accounts of the time.

As the Mali Empire declined and various kingdoms and empires rose and fell in the region, the Toure surname continued to be passed down through generations. In the 19th century, a prominent Toure family emerged in the Wassoulou region of present-day Mali, known for their expertise in traditional music and their patronage of the arts.

One of the most famous individuals to bear the Toure surname was Batourou Sekou Toure, a Guinean political leader who played a pivotal role in the decolonization of Guinea from French rule. Born in 1922, Toure became the first President of Guinea in 1958 and ruled the country until his death in 1984.

Other notable figures with the Toure surname include:

1. Amadou Toure (1922-1992), a Malian writer and poet known for his works exploring themes of cultural identity and independence.
2. Samory Toure (1830-1900), a Malinke ruler who led a successful resistance against French colonial rule in West Africa.
3. Seydou Toure (1940-2013), a renowned Malian photographer whose work documented daily life in his country.
4. Aminata Toure (born 1962), a Guinean politician and human rights activist who has advocated for women's rights and democracy.
5. Saidou Toure (born 1983), a Burkinabe professional footballer who has played for various clubs in Europe and Africa.

The Toure surname has remained prevalent in Mali and other parts of West Africa, carrying with it a rich history and cultural significance that reflects the region's past and the enduring traditions of its people.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Touré

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

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

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

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