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

Wanjiku, 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 Wanjiku surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wanjiku in America

Wanjiku is the 138304th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wanjiku surname appeared 121 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 Wanjiku.

The history of the last name Wanjiku

The surname Wanjiku has its origins in Kenya, East Africa, and is primarily associated with the Kikuyu people, one of the largest ethnic groups in the country. The name is derived from the Kikuyu language and is believed to have emerged during the late 19th or early 20th century.

The word "Wanjiku" itself is a combination of two Kikuyu words, "Wa" meaning "daughter of" and "Njiku" which is a personal name. Thus, Wanjiku translates to "daughter of Njiku" or "daughter of the first-born child." This naming convention was commonly used among the Kikuyu, where children were often given names that reflected their family lineage or birth order.

Historical records of the surname Wanjiku are scarce, as written documentation in the Kikuyu language was limited until the 20th century. However, oral traditions and genealogical accounts passed down through generations suggest that the name has been in use for several centuries.

One of the earliest known references to the name Wanjiku can be found in the writings of Jomo Kenyatta, the first Prime Minister and President of independent Kenya. In his book "Facing Mount Kenya," published in 1938, Kenyatta mentions a character named Wanjiku, indicating that the name was in use among the Kikuyu people during that time period.

Notable individuals who have borne the surname Wanjiku include:

1. Wanjiku Kabira (1935-2022), a Kenyan author, literary scholar, and activist known for her contributions to women's rights and Kenyan literature.
2. Wanjiku Mwaurah (born 1948), a Kenyan politician and former Member of Parliament, who served as the Minister for Culture and Social Services.
3. Wanjiku Muhia (born 1957), a Kenyan sculptor and artist renowned for her intricate wood carvings and depictions of Kikuyu culture.
4. Wanjiku Wa Nyagah (dates unknown), a Kikuyu woman mentioned in historical accounts for her role in the Mau Mau uprising against British colonial rule in the 1950s.
5. Wanjiku Waiyaki (born 1975), a Kenyan journalist and television personality who has worked for various media outlets in Kenya and abroad.

While the surname Wanjiku is predominantly found among the Kikuyu people, it has also been adopted by other ethnic groups in Kenya, reflecting the country's rich cultural diversity and the intermingling of communities over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wanjiku

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

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

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

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