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

Udofia, 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 Udofia surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Udofia in America

Udofia is the 126018th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Udofia surname appeared 136 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 Udofia.

The history of the last name Udofia

The surname UDOFIA originated in Nigeria, specifically among the Ibibio people of Akwa Ibom State. It is believed to have emerged around the 16th century. The name is derived from the Ibibio phrase "udon afia," which translates to "child of the market." This suggests that the name may have been given to children born in or near a marketplace.

One of the earliest known mentions of the name UDOFIA can be found in oral histories and traditions passed down through generations of Ibibio families. These accounts often reference individuals with this surname who played significant roles in their communities, such as respected elders or skilled traders.

In the late 19th century, the UDOFIA name began appearing in written records, particularly those kept by colonial administrators and Christian missionaries operating in the region. One notable example is Chief Udo Udofia, a prominent leader and diplomat who was instrumental in negotiating treaties between the Ibibio people and the British colonial government in the early 20th century.

Another historical figure with the UDOFIA surname is Obong Udofia Ekpo Ita (1885-1962), who served as the Obong (king) of the Ibibio people from 1923 until his death. He was known for his efforts to preserve Ibibio culture and traditions during the colonial era.

In the realm of literature, the UDOFIA name is associated with Eno Udofia (1931-2019), a renowned Ibibio author and playwright. Her works, such as "The Scorpion's Lash" and "Bitterleaf," explored themes of cultural identity and the struggles faced by women in traditional societies.

During the Nigerian independence movement of the mid-20th century, Chief Okon Udofia (1912-1985) was a prominent figure. He served as a member of the Eastern Nigerian House of Assembly and played a role in the negotiations that led to Nigeria's independence from British rule in 1960.

Beyond Nigeria, the UDOFIA surname has also been found in various diaspora communities around the world, particularly in countries with significant Nigerian immigrant populations, such as the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Udofia

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

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

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

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