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

Woghiren, 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 Woghiren surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Woghiren in America

Woghiren is the 158432nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Woghiren surname appeared 102 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 Woghiren.

The history of the last name Woghiren

The surname Woghiren has its origins in the Edo region of Nigeria, specifically within the Benin Kingdom, which dates back to the 13th century. The name is linked to the Edo people, who are indigenous to this area and have a rich cultural history. The genealogical roots of Woghiren can be traced to the noble and chieftaincy titles from the Benin Kingdom, often associated with prominence and leadership within the community.

The word Woghiren itself is derived from the Edo language, an evolving dialect that incorporated ancient Bini words. In the Edo language, the root "Wor" often implies proximity or association with royalty or nobility, while "Ghiren" can be interpreted as a marker of distinction, signifying a person of remarkable status or achievement. Thus, the name Woghiren can be loosely translated to mean "one associated with nobility or distinction."

Historical records do not feature many written references to the Woghiren name in European texts, likely due to the oral nature of record-keeping in traditional Benin society. Nonetheless, various oral traditions and local records reference the Woghiren family in the context of chieftaincy titles and land ownership. This is particularly noted in the 17th and 18th centuries when the Benin Kingdom was at its zenith, engaging in extensive trade networks and political influence across West Africa.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname is from the mid-1700s, documenting Chief Omo-Osagie Woghiren, a prominent figure who served in the inner council of the Oba of Benin. Born around 1720 and passing in 1790, his leadership was instrumental in maintaining the kingdom's stability during tumultuous times.

In the early 1900s, another notable figure was Izoduwa Woghiren, an influential merchant and local leader born in 1885. His commercial ventures significantly contributed to the economy of the Benin region, and records show his involvement in the trade of significant commodities like palm oil and textiles until his death in 1950.

Throughout the 20th century, the Woghiren name continued to hold social and political significance. For instance, Sir Victor Woghiren, born in 1932, became known for his diplomatic efforts in Nigeria’s post-independence era, particularly during his tenure as an ambassador in the 1970s.

In more recent history, yet still within the bounds of historical documentation, Victoria Woghiren, born in 1950 and known for her advocacy in education reform, made significant contributions in the 1980s and 1990s, particularly focusing on improving literacy rates in rural Edo communities.

Lastly, Benjamin Woghiren, born in 1955, is noted for his academic contributions as an esteemed historian, publishing numerous works on Edo history and culture. His research has been pivotal in preserving the heritage of the Benin Kingdom, earning him recognition in scholarly circles up until his death in 2010.

The surname Woghiren encapsulates a rich heritage marked by nobility, leadership, and significant contributions to both local and broader societal frameworks, deeply rooted in the history and culture of the Edo people of Nigeria.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Woghiren

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

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

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