Explore the Family Name Kamau
The meaning of Kamau
Kenyan: Kikuyu name of uncertain meaning, the name of a traditional ‘regiment set’ in the 18th century, perhaps established as a Western-style surname and popularized through being the personal name of Jomo Kenyatta, first president of independent Kenya.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Kamau in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Kamau has seen a significant increase between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Kamau was ranked as the 39,240th most popular surname, but by 2010 it had jumped up to the 17,992nd spot, signifying a change of 54.15%. The count of individuals with this surname also rose dramatically, from 528 in 2000 to 1,552 in 2010, marking an increase of 193.94%. The proportion of people named Kamau per 100,000 also saw an upward shift, going from 0.2 to 0.53 during the same period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #39,240 | #17,992 | 54.15% |
| Count | 528 | 1,552 | 193.94% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.2 | 0.53 | 165% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Kamau
When examining the ethnic identity associated with the surname Kamau, data from the Decennial U.S. Census indicates that there have been some notable shifts between 2000 and 2010. The percentage of individuals identified as Asian/Pacific Islander declined by 56.11%, and those identified as having two or more races decreased by 65.47%. The proportion of individuals with the Kamau surname who are White decreased slightly by 15.83%. There were no changes observed in the Hispanic or American Indian and Alaskan Native categories. However, there was a significant increase in the number of individuals identified as Black, rising from 75.38% in 2000 to 88.53% in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 75.38% | 88.53% | 17.44% |
| Two or More Races | 11.93% | 4.12% | -65.47% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 7.2% | 3.16% | -56.11% |
| White | 3.6% | 3.03% | -15.83% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |