Explore the Family Name Okeke
The meaning of Okeke
West African (Nigeria): from the Igbo personal name Okeke, meaning ‘man born on Eke day’ (see Eke). Compare Okereke. Some characteristic forenames: African Emeka, Ngozi, Ijeoma.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Okeke in the United States?
The surname 'Okeke' shows notable growth in popularity based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census. In 2000, it ranked 25,272 in terms of commonality, but by 2010, it had risen to 18,910 - an increase of over 25%. The number of people bearing this surname also increased significantly during this period, growing by nearly 57% from 920 in 2000 to 1,444 in 2010. This surge is reflected in the proportion of people named Okeke per 100,000, which rose by over 44% to reach 0.49.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #25,272 | #18,910 | 25.17% |
| Count | 920 | 1,444 | 56.96% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.34 | 0.49 | 44.12% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Okeke
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data indicates that the vast majority of people with the surname 'Okeke' identify as Black. This group constituted 92.61% of all Okekes in 2000 and grew to 95.29% by 2010, indicating a slight increase. The percentage of those identifying as two or more races decreased substantially from 4.89% to 1.80%. The fraction of individuals identifying as White also reduced slightly. Meanwhile, the percentage of those identifying as Hispanic saw a small increase. The proportions for Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian and Alaskan Native remained constant at zero.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 92.61% | 95.29% | 2.89% |
| Two or More Races | 4.89% | 1.8% | -63.19% |
| White | 1.85% | 1.66% | -10.27% |
| Hispanic | 0.54% | 0.69% | 27.78% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |