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

Wambugu, 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 Wambugu surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wambugu in America

Wambugu is the 148347th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wambugu surname appeared 111 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 Wambugu.

The history of the last name Wambugu

The surname Wambugu is of Kenyan origin, with its roots traced back to the Kikuyu people, one of the largest ethnic groups in the country. The name is believed to have originated during the 17th or 18th century in the central highlands of Kenya.

The name Wambugu is derived from the Kikuyu language and is thought to be a combination of the words "wa," meaning "of," and "mbugu," which refers to the Mbugu clan or sub-tribe within the Kikuyu community. This suggests that the name was initially used to identify individuals who belonged to this specific clan or lineage.

While there are no known historical references to the name Wambugu in ancient manuscripts or records, it is likely that the name was in use among the Kikuyu people for several centuries before written records became more common in the region.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Wambugu was Nderi Wambugu, a prominent Kenyan politician and activist who lived from 1923 to 2003. He was a member of the Kenyan African National Union (KANU) and played a significant role in Kenya's struggle for independence from British colonial rule.

Another notable figure was Njeri Wambugu, a Kenyan writer and educator who lived from 1918 to 2011. She was a pioneering figure in the field of children's literature in Kenya and authored several books and stories aimed at preserving and promoting Kikuyu cultural traditions.

In the late 20th century, Maina Wambugu (1948-2007) gained recognition as a Kenyan scientist and environmentalist. He was instrumental in advocating for the adoption of genetically modified crops in Africa as a means of addressing food insecurity and improving agricultural productivity.

Wangari Maathai (1940-2011), the renowned Kenyan environmental activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, also shared the surname Wambugu as part of her full name, Wangari Muta Maathai Wambugu. She was an influential figure in the Green Belt Movement, which focused on environmental conservation and women's rights.

Lastly, Josephine Wambugu Kabura (1941-2014) was a Kenyan diplomat and political figure who served as the Minister of Culture and Social Services in the 1990s and was actively involved in promoting women's empowerment and cultural preservation initiatives.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wambugu

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

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

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

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