Explore the Family Name Bongo
The meaning of Bongo
1. Italian: possibly a derivative of Bongi, a shortened form of Bongianni, a compound name formed with bono ‘good’ + the personal name Gianni. 2. African (mainly Congo and Angola): unexplained. 3. Filipino: nickname derived from Tagalog bungo ‘skull’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Bongo in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Bongo has seen a slight increase in popularity from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, it ranked 68,172 in terms of commonality, but by 2010, it had climbed to rank 65,424. This represents a change of 4.03 percent. The number of people with the Bongo surname also increased during this time period. In 2000, there were 270 individuals with this name, and by 2010, that count had risen by 12.22 percent to reach 303. However, when taking into account the population growth over the decade, the proportion of individuals named Bongo per 100,000 remained constant at 0.1.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #68,172 | #65,424 | 4.03% |
| Count | 270 | 303 | 12.22% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Bongo
The Decennial U.S. Census data also reveals shifts in the ethnic identities associated with the Bongo surname from 2000 to 2010. While the majority identifying as White decreased slightly from 67.78 percent to 65.68 percent, there was a significant increase in those identifying as Black or African American, climbing from 8.15 percent to 14.19 percent. Those identifying as Asian or Pacific Islander saw a decrease from 14.44 percent to 8.58 percent. There was a notable increase in individuals identifying with two or more races, from 1.85 percent to 5.28 percent. The percentage of people identifying as Hispanic declined from 3.70 percent to 2.31 percent, and those identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native marginally decreased from 4.07 percent to 3.96 percent.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 67.78% | 65.68% | -3.1% |
| Black | 8.15% | 14.19% | 74.11% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 14.44% | 8.58% | -40.58% |
| Two or More Races | 1.85% | 5.28% | 185.41% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 4.07% | 3.96% | -2.7% |
| Hispanic | 3.7% | 2.31% | -37.57% |