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

Wurie, 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 Wurie surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wurie in America

Wurie is the 137327th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wurie surname appeared 122 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 Wurie.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wurie 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 Wurie

The surname Wurie is believed to have originated from West Africa, particularly from the Mende people of Sierra Leone. The Mende are one of the largest ethnic groups in Sierra Leone, and their language and culture have a significant influence on local names and their meanings.

The name Wurie is derived from the Mende language, where it historically held the meaning of wisdom or intelligence. The name is often associated with individuals who held important positions within their communities, such as traditional leaders or advisors. The earliest records of the surname Wurie can be traced back to the 18th century, coinciding with the period of increased documentation by European explorers and traders along the West African coast.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Wurie appears in the travel logs of European explorers in the late 18th century, specifically around the 1790s. These logs often listed names of local chiefs or notable figures with whom the explorers interacted. Chief Amadu Wurie, born around 1760 and died in 1822, was a prominent Mende leader known for his wisdom and diplomatic skills in negotiating with both neighboring tribes and European traders.

Another notable historical figure bearing the surname is Ibrahim Wurie, a respected teacher and scholar in the early 19th century. Born in 1785 and dying in 1854, he contributed significantly to the local education system, promoting literacy and the teaching of both indigenous knowledge and Western educational subjects.

In the mid to late 19th century, a prominent merchant named Abdulai Wurie, born in 1845 and passing in 1911, emerged in Freetown, Sierra Leone. He played a crucial role in the commercial development of the city, engaging in trade relationships both locally and internationally. His entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen left a lasting impact on the economic life of the region.

Moving into the 20th century, the name continued to be associated with influential individuals. One such person was Sulaiman Wurie, born in 1892 and died in 1970, who served as a key political figure during the struggle for Sierra Leone's independence from British colonial rule. His leadership and advocacy were instrumental in the country's road to self-governance.

Another significant personality of the Wurie surname was Mariama Wurie, a women's rights activist born in 1925 and passing in 1988. She worked tirelessly to advance the position of women in Sierra Leonean society, focusing on education, health, and economic empowerment. Her efforts contributed substantially to the improvement of women's lives and the broader societal development.

The surname Wurie, therefore, has a rich history deeply intertwined with the cultural and social fabric of Sierra Leone. It stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of wisdom, leadership, and contributions to the community, spanning several centuries and continuing to be recognized to this day.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wurie

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

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

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

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