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

Wanza, 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 Wanza surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wanza in America

Wanza is the 127494th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wanza surname appeared 134 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 Wanza.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wanza 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 Wanza

The surname WANZA has its origins in the East African region, particularly in present-day Kenya and Tanzania. It can be traced back to the 17th century and is believed to have derived from the Swahili word "wanza," which means "to begin" or "to initiate."

The name WANZA was initially associated with the coastal regions of East Africa, where the Swahili language and culture have been deeply rooted for centuries. These areas were once hubs of trade and cultural exchange between the African interior and the Indian Ocean maritime routes.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name WANZA can be found in the records of the Omani Sultanate, which ruled over parts of East Africa during the 19th century. These records document individuals bearing the name WANZA who were involved in trade and administrative roles within the coastal regions.

In the late 19th century, a prominent figure named Juma WANZA (born circa 1850) was recognized as a respected elder and leader within the Mijikenda community, an ethnic group native to the coastal region of present-day Kenya. His influence and legacy have been documented in oral histories passed down through generations.

Another notable individual with the surname WANZA was Musa WANZA (1890-1972), a Kenyan educator and community leader who played a significant role in establishing schools and advocating for education in the Kilifi region of coastal Kenya during the colonial era.

The name WANZA has also been found in historical records from the island of Zanzibar, which was a major trading hub and cultural melting pot in the Indian Ocean region. One such individual was Ali WANZA (1820-1890), a merchant and landowner who was involved in the lucrative clove trade that flourished in Zanzibar during the 19th century.

In more recent times, the surname WANZA has been carried by notable figures such as Abdulrahman WANZA (1925-2004), a Tanzanian politician and diplomat who served as the country's ambassador to several nations, and Fatuma WANZA (born 1960), a Kenyan businesswoman and philanthropist known for her contributions to women's empowerment initiatives.

While the surname WANZA may have originated in East Africa, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and cultural exchange. However, its roots can be traced back to the coastal regions of Kenya and Tanzania, where it has a rich historical and cultural significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wanza

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

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

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Wanza, 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!