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

Ugwu, 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 Ugwu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ugwu in America

Ugwu is the 70645th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ugwu surname appeared 277 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 Ugwu.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ugwu 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 Ugwu

The surname UGWU originates from the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria. It is believed to have derived from the Igbo word "ugwu," which means "hill" or "elevated land." The Igbo people have traditionally inhabited the region known as Igboland, which encompasses parts of the present-day states of Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo, and Abia.

The earliest known records of the UGWU surname can be traced back to the 16th century when Portuguese traders and missionaries first encountered the Igbo people. Some of the early written accounts from these encounters mention individuals with names that resemble UGWU or variations of it, such as Ugwuocha or Ugwunna.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the UGWU surname was Nnamdi UGWU, a prominent Igbo trader who lived in the late 17th century. He was known for his extensive trade network that stretched across the region, facilitating the exchange of goods between coastal communities and inland settlements.

In the 19th century, several Igbo individuals with the UGWU surname were noted in the records of British colonial administrators and missionaries. For example, Okechukwu UGWU (1830-1892) was a respected elder and community leader who played a vital role in mediating disputes between his village and the colonial authorities.

Another notable figure was Nneka UGWU (1865-1938), a renowned herbalist and traditional healer who was widely sought after for her expertise in treating various ailments. Her knowledge and practices were documented by some of the early European anthropologists studying Igbo culture.

During the 20th century, the UGWU surname gained wider recognition with individuals excelling in various fields. One such person was Chidi UGWU (1920-2005), a renowned sculptor whose works depicted scenes from Igbo cultural life and were exhibited in several museums across Nigeria and abroad.

Adaeze UGWU (1945-2018) was a prominent educator and advocate for women's rights. She established several schools in her hometown and worked tirelessly to promote education and empowerment for girls and women in Igbo communities.

It is important to note that while the UGWU surname is strongly associated with the Igbo people of Nigeria, individuals with this name can be found in various parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ugwu

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

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

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

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