2010
#143,149
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 116
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Tshimanga
A surname of Bantu/Congolese origin meaning "traveler" or "one who wanders".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 251 Americans carry the last name Tshimanga. That puts it at #90,519 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.07 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,365,555 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Tshimanga surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
251
1 in 1,365,555
Census rank
#90,519
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
219
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 219 bearers of the surname Tshimanga in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.07 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 90519th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Tshimanga, the largest self-reported group is Black at 93.6%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.1%) and White (1.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Tshimanga
The surname Tshimanga has its origins in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a country located in Central Africa. It is believed to have emerged during the late 18th or early 19th century, originating from the Tshiluba language spoken by the Luba people, one of the largest ethnic groups in the region.
The name Tshimanga is derived from the Tshiluba word "cimanga," which means "fortune" or "luck." This suggests that the surname may have been given to individuals or families who were considered fortunate or blessed. Historically, surnames in this region were often influenced by personal characteristics, occupations, or events that held significance within the community.
Unfortunately, due to the limited documentation and record-keeping practices of that era, there are no known historical references or manuscripts that specifically mention the surname Tshimanga from the early years of its existence. However, it is likely that the name appeared in local village records or oral traditions passed down through generations.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Tshimanga was Kamba Tshimanga, a renowned hunter and tribal leader who lived in the late 19th century. He was known for his bravery and skill in providing for his community during times of scarcity. Another notable figure was Ngandu Tshimanga, a respected healer and herbalist who practiced traditional medicine in the early 20th century.
In more recent times, the name has been carried by several influential individuals. Mwamba Tshimanga (1932-2010) was a prominent writer and poet who helped preserve and promote the Tshiluba language and culture through his literary works. Kabila Tshimanga (1942-2001) was a political activist and leader who played a significant role in the struggle for democracy and human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Additionally, Mukamba Tshimanga (born 1975) is a renowned artist and sculptor, whose works have been exhibited internationally and have contributed to the recognition of Congolese art on the global stage. Lastly, Nsumbu Tshimanga (born 1982) is a celebrated musician and composer, known for blending traditional Congolese rhythms with contemporary elements.
While the surname Tshimanga may have originated from humble beginnings, it has since been carried by individuals who have made significant contributions to their communities, cultures, and the broader society. The name continues to hold a strong connection to its Congolese roots and serves as a reminder of the rich cultural heritage of the region.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Tshimanga
Among Census respondents with the surname Tshimanga, the largest self-reported group is Black at 93.6%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.1%) and White (1.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Tshimanga bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Tshimanga surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American93.6% · 205
- Two or more races4.1% · 9
- White1.8% · 4
- Hispanic or Latino0.5% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Tshimanga
Tshimanga appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#90,519
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 219
+103 bearers (+88.8%)
Per 100,000 0.07
Rank movement Up 52,630 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #143,149 | 116 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #90,519 | 219 | 0.07 | +103 bearers (+88.8%) | Up 52,630 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Tshimanga surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #143,149 | #90,519 | 36.8% |
| Count | 116 | 219 | 88.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.07 | 83.2% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Tshimanga bearers went from 116 to 219 (+88.8% change). The surname moved up 52,630 positions in the national ranking, going from #143,149 to #90,519.
FAQ
Tshimanga surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Tshimanga?
Name Census estimates that about 251 living Americans carry the surname Tshimanga. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 1,365,555 residents.
How common is Tshimanga?
Tshimanga ranks #90,519 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.07 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 219 people with the surname Tshimanga. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (251), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.07 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.07 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Tshimanga.
Has Tshimanga become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Tshimanga went from 116 recorded bearers to 219. That is an increase of 103 (+88.8%). In the national ranking it rose from #143,149 to #90,519.
What does the Census say about the background of Tshimanga?
Among Census respondents with the surname Tshimanga, the largest self-reported group is Black at 93.6%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.1%) and White (1.8%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Black is the largest self-reported group for the surname Tshimanga in the 2020 Census, accounting for 93.6% (205 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Tshimanga appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Black (93.6%), Two or More Races (4.1%), White (1.8%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Tshimanga (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Tshimanga mean?
A surname of Bantu/Congolese origin meaning "traveler" or "one who wanders". The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Tshimanga (0.07 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Tshimanga?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.