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

Wachira, 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 Wachira surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wachira in America

Wachira is the 65964th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wachira surname appeared 300 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 Wachira.

The history of the last name Wachira

The surname Wachira originated in Kenya and can be traced back to the 18th century. It is a name of Bantu origin, derived from the word "wachi," which means "strong" or "powerful" in the Kikuyu language. The name was initially associated with the Kikuyu people, who are one of the largest ethnic groups in Kenya.

Early records of the name Wachira can be found in local village records and oral histories passed down through generations. One of the earliest known individuals with this surname was Wachira Kanja, a respected elder and warrior in the late 1700s who was renowned for his bravery and leadership during conflicts with neighboring tribes.

As the Kikuyu people migrated and settled in different regions of Kenya, the name Wachira spread across the country. It became particularly prevalent in areas around Mount Kenya and the central highlands, where the Kikuyu have traditionally lived.

In the 19th century, the name Wachira appeared in colonial records and documents kept by British administrators. One notable figure was Wachira wa Kanja (1875-1943), a prominent elder and advisor to the colonial government, known for his efforts to preserve Kikuyu culture and traditions.

Another famous individual with the surname Wachira was Jomo Kenyatta (1894-1978), the first President of Kenya after the country gained independence from Britain in 1963. Although his birth name was Kamau wa Ngengi, he later adopted the name Kenyatta, which is derived from the Kikuyu word "kenyatta" meaning "bright light" or "founder of a new nation."

Other notable individuals with the surname Wachira include Wachira Maina (1905-1988), a respected elder and traditional healer; Wachira Gatere (1921-2001), a prominent businessman and philanthropist; and Wachira Karani (1932-2008), a celebrated author and poet who wrote extensively about Kikuyu culture and folklore.

While the surname Wachira is most commonly associated with the Kikuyu people, it has also been adopted by other Kenyan communities over time, reflecting the country's rich cultural diversity and the intermingling of various ethnic groups.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wachira

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

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

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

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