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

Wambui, 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 Wambui surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wambui in America

Wambui is the 152628th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wambui surname appeared 107 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 Wambui.

The history of the last name Wambui

The surname WAMBUI is of Kenyan origin, tracing its roots back to the Kikuyu people of central Kenya. The name is derived from the Kikuyu language and is believed to have originated in the late 15th or early 16th century.

WAMBUI is a feminine name that means "born at night" or "born during darkness". It is a common name among the Kikuyu, who have a rich cultural heritage and a long-standing tradition of using names that reflect the circumstances surrounding a child's birth or the time of day when they were born.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname WAMBUI can be found in oral histories and traditional Kikuyu storytelling, which were passed down from generation to generation. These oral traditions often mentioned prominent individuals or families who carried the name WAMBUI, though specific dates and details are scarce.

One of the earliest known written records of the name WAMBUI appears in a missionary's journal from the late 19th century, where a Kikuyu woman named WAMBUI is mentioned as being a respected elder in her community. This suggests that the name had been in use for several centuries prior to European colonization and the introduction of written records.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the surname WAMBUI. One such individual was WAMBUI OTIENO (1934-2011), a Kenyan activist and politician who fought for women's rights and played a significant role in the country's independence movement. Another prominent figure was WAMBUI WAIYAKI (1923-2003), a Kenyan educator and women's rights advocate who founded several schools and organizations dedicated to empowering girls and women.

Other historical figures with the surname WAMBUI include WAMBUI KABIRU (1918-1999), a renowned Kikuyu potter and ceramicist whose works are displayed in museums around the world, and WAMBUI MWANGI (1928-2010), a Kenyan writer and poet whose works explored themes of identity, tradition, and social change.

WAMBUI KARANJA (1905-1987) was a prominent Kikuyu leader and activist who played a pivotal role in the Mau Mau uprising against British colonial rule in the 1950s. Her bravery and unwavering commitment to the struggle for independence earned her a place in Kenyan history and folklore.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wambui

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!