A website has come up revealing the most popular surnames in every country.
In Kenya, common Kikuyu name ‘Mwangi’ is listed as the most popular surname in Kenya, appearing at a frequency of 1 in every 72 people.
A total of 632,298 people bear the surname. ‘Mwangi’ also makes a big presence in other East African nations.
Coming at number two is another common Kikuyu name – Maina, with an incidence of 415,000 at a frequency of 1 in every 110 people.
Kamau follows at position three, followed by Otieno and Kariuki in that order.
Others appearing in the top 10 are Njoroge, Kimani, Ochieng, Odhiambo and Omondi.
Only two tribes – Kikuyu and Luos, make up the top 10. As a matter of fact, the first non-Kikuyu or Luo name is ‘Mutua’, appearing at position 18.
In the world, the most common surname is ‘Wang’, having more than 76 million people bearing it. Of course most of these are in China.
It is also not surprising that the top 10 surnames in the world are from China and India.
THE WORLD’S MOST COMMON SURNAMES
1. Wang (China)
2. Devi (India)
3. Zhang (China)
4. Li (China)
5. Liu (China)
6. Singh (India)
7.Yang (China)
8. Kumar (India)
9. Wu (China)
10. Xu (China)
The website, forebears.io, gets its information from various sources including government records.
These are the 200 most common surnames in Kenya.
Rank | Surname | Incidence | Frequency |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Mwangi | 632,298 | 1: 72 |
2 | Maina | 415,176 | 1: 110 |
3 | Kamau | 397,913 | 1: 114 |
4 | Otieno | 349,184 | 1: 130 |
5 | Kariuki | 309,793 | 1: 147 |
6 | Njoroge | 293,393 | 1: 155 |
7 | Kimani | 275,816 | 1: 165 |
8 | Ochieng | 235,797 | 1: 193 |
9 | Odhiambo | 223,399 | 1: 204 |
10 | Omondi | 216,180 | 1: 211 |
11 | Onyango | 206,529 | 1: 221 |
12 | Njuguna | 203,233 | 1: 224 |
13 | Macharia | 199,388 | 1: 228 |
14 | Karanja | 195,308 | 1: 233 |
15 | Wanjiru | 170,198 | 1: 268 |
16 | Njeri | 167,451 | 1: 272 |
17 | Wambui | 157,329 | 1: 289 |
18 | Mutua | 155,838 | 1: 292 |
19 | Juma | 154,112 | 1: 296 |
20 | Chege | 152,542 | 1: 299 |
21 | Mbugua | 151,993 | 1: 300 |
22 | Ndungu | 144,146 | 1: 316 |
23 | Wachira | 143,362 | 1: 318 |
24 | Waweru | 142,891 | 1: 319 |
25 | Wanjiku | 141,714 | 1: 321 |
26 | Ngugi | 136,770 | 1: 333 |
27 | Muthoni | 131,591 | 1: 346 |
28 | Mburu | 130,414 | 1: 349 |
29 | Mwaura | 128,060 | 1: 356 |
30 | Gitau | 126,648 | 1: 360 |
31 | Mungai | 122,881 | 1: 371 |
32 | Shah | 117,859 | 1: 386 |
33 | Kinyua | 114,093 | 1: 399 |
34 | Njenga | 113,308 | 1: 402 |
35 | Wambua | 113,230 | 1: 402 |
36 | Mugo | 113,073 | 1: 403 |
37 | Gitonga | 104,441 | 1: 436 |
38 | Muriithi | 103,029 | 1: 442 |
39 | Ouma | 102,637 | 1: 444 |
40 | Kinyanjui | 96,751 | 1: 471 |
41 | Njeru | 95,496 | 1: 477 |
42 | Kuria | 94,947 | 1: 480 |
42 | Muriuki | 94,947 | 1: 480 |
44 | Mwaniki | 93,770 | 1: 486 |
45 | Nyaga | 93,534 | 1: 487 |
46 | Munene | 93,299 | 1: 488 |
47 | Owino | 92,122 | 1: 494 |
48 | Ndegwa | 90,317 | 1: 504 |
49 | Muchiri | 89,925 | 1: 506 |
50 | Wafula | 89,375 | 1: 510 |
51 | Koech | 88,041 | 1: 517 |
52 | Nganga | 86,472 | 1: 527 |
53 | Okoth | 85,530 | 1: 533 |
54 | Wairimu | 85,060 | 1: 535 |
55 | Cheruiyot | 83,255 | 1: 547 |
56 | Mutuku | 82,863 | 1: 550 |
57 | Rotich | 81,058 | 1: 562 |
57 | Langat | 81,058 | 1: 562 |
59 | Mohamed | 80,665 | 1: 565 |
60 | Atieno | 80,038 | 1: 569 |
61 | Nyambura | 79,959 | 1: 570 |
62 | Wangui | 79,645 | 1: 572 |
62 | Achieng | 79,645 | 1: 572 |
64 | Oduor | 79,018 | 1: 576 |
65 | Hassan | 77,291 | 1: 589 |
66 | Githinji | 76,977 | 1: 592 |
67 | Kioko | 76,820 | 1: 593 |
68 | Kirui | 76,742 | 1: 593 |
69 | Musyoka | 76,507 | 1: 595 |
69 | Patel | 76,507 | 1: 595 |
71 | Irungu | 76,114 | 1: 598 |
72 | Njoki | 75,879 | 1: 600 |
73 | Wainaina | 75,251 | 1: 605 |
73 | Simiyu | 75,251 | 1: 605 |
75 | Wambugu | 74,702 | 1: 610 |
76 | Akinyi | 73,368 | 1: 621 |
77 | Wangari | 72,740 | 1: 626 |
78 | Kiarie | 72,269 | 1: 630 |
79 | Nderitu | 70,465 | 1: 646 |
80 | Wanjohi | 70,386 | 1: 647 |
81 | Ndirangu | 69,601 | 1: 654 |
82 | Abdi | 68,660 | 1: 663 |
83 | Njogu | 67,012 | 1: 680 |
84 | Korir | 66,698 | 1: 683 |
85 | Muiruri | 66,306 | 1: 687 |
86 | Ali | 66,070 | 1: 689 |
87 | Mutai | 65,913 | 1: 691 |
88 | Kinuthia | 64,815 | 1: 703 |
88 | Mugambi | 64,815 | 1: 703 |
90 | Okello | 64,579 | 1: 705 |
91 | Njagi | 64,344 | 1: 708 |
92 | Kibet | 63,795 | 1: 714 |
93 | Muli | 63,559 | 1: 717 |
94 | Opiyo | 62,539 | 1: 728 |
95 | Mutinda | 62,147 | 1: 733 |
96 | Ng’ang’a | 61,990 | 1: 735 |
97 | Mwai | 61,048 | 1: 746 |
98 | Were | 60,499 | 1: 753 |
99 | Kyalo | 59,871 | 1: 761 |
99 | Barasa | 59,871 | 1: 761 |
99 | Rono | 59,871 | 1: 761 |
102 | Mwenda | 59,244 | 1: 769 |
103 | Okumu | 58,537 | 1: 778 |
104 | Maingi | 58,223 | 1: 782 |
105 | Muturi | 57,439 | 1: 793 |
106 | Mathenge | 57,282 | 1: 795 |
107 | Ndung’u | 57,203 | 1: 796 |
107 | Mutisya | 57,203 | 1: 796 |
109 | Bett | 56,262 | 1: 810 |
110 | Hussein | 55,634 | 1: 819 |
111 | Oluoch | 54,928 | 1: 829 |
111 | Ogutu | 54,928 | 1: 829 |
113 | Odongo | 54,692 | 1: 833 |
114 | Wahome | 54,143 | 1: 841 |
115 | Makau | 53,437 | 1: 852 |
116 | Mwendwa | 53,358 | 1: 854 |
117 | Kimathi | 53,045 | 1: 859 |
118 | Wanjala | 51,004 | 1: 893 |
119 | Owuor | 50,847 | 1: 896 |
119 | Thuo | 50,847 | 1: 896 |
121 | Wekesa | 50,612 | 1: 900 |
122 | Momanyi | 50,141 | 1: 908 |
123 | Karimi | 49,827 | 1: 914 |
124 | Adhiambo | 49,592 | 1: 918 |
125 | Oloo | 49,435 | 1: 921 |
126 | Waithaka | 48,101 | 1: 947 |
127 | Mwende | 48,023 | 1: 948 |
128 | Musau | 46,846 | 1: 972 |
129 | Munyao | 46,610 | 1: 977 |
130 | Mureithi | 46,375 | 1: 982 |
131 | Njiru | 42,922 | 1: 1,061 |
132 | Musyoki | 42,844 | 1: 1,063 |
132 | Mutiso | 42,844 | 1: 1,063 |
134 | Wanja | 42,608 | 1: 1,069 |
135 | Njau | 42,451 | 1: 1,073 |
136 | Murithi | 42,373 | 1: 1,075 |
137 | Odero | 41,274 | 1: 1,104 |
137 | Gichuki | 41,274 | 1: 1,104 |
139 | Moraa | 40,725 | 1: 1,118 |
140 | Wanyonyi | 40,568 | 1: 1,123 |
141 | Muema | 39,862 | 1: 1,143 |
142 | Karani | 39,626 | 1: 1,149 |
143 | Nyakundi | 39,548 | 1: 1,152 |
144 | Kiragu | 39,470 | 1: 1,154 |
145 | Makokha | 39,234 | 1: 1,161 |
145 | Ahmed | 39,234 | 1: 1,161 |
147 | Mbogo | 38,920 | 1: 1,170 |
148 | Mulwa | 38,685 | 1: 1,177 |
149 | Muigai | 38,606 | 1: 1,180 |
149 | Kemboi | 38,606 | 1: 1,180 |
151 | Murage | 38,449 | 1: 1,185 |
151 | Mutunga | 38,449 | 1: 1,185 |
153 | Ngure | 38,293 | 1: 1,189 |
153 | Awuor | 38,293 | 1: 1,189 |
155 | Kihara | 38,057 | 1: 1,197 |
156 | Kilonzo | 37,979 | 1: 1,199 |
157 | Ngetich | 37,900 | 1: 1,202 |
157 | Makori | 37,900 | 1: 1,202 |
159 | Omollo | 37,272 | 1: 1,222 |
160 | Wanyoike | 37,116 | 1: 1,227 |
161 | Kimeu | 36,723 | 1: 1,240 |
162 | Anyango | 35,625 | 1: 1,278 |
163 | Ngari | 35,546 | 1: 1,281 |
163 | Nzioka | 35,546 | 1: 1,281 |
165 | Nyongesa | 35,311 | 1: 1,290 |
165 | Mumbi | 35,311 | 1: 1,290 |
167 | Mumo | 35,154 | 1: 1,296 |
168 | Odera | 35,075 | 1: 1,299 |
169 | Murimi | 34,761 | 1: 1,310 |
170 | Oyugi | 34,526 | 1: 1,319 |
171 | Mbithi | 34,369 | 1: 1,325 |
172 | Sang | 33,898 | 1: 1,344 |
173 | Opondo | 33,663 | 1: 1,353 |
174 | Ngigi | 33,427 | 1: 1,363 |
175 | Owiti | 33,349 | 1: 1,366 |
176 | Mbuthia | 33,271 | 1: 1,369 |
177 | Thuku | 33,192 | 1: 1,372 |
178 | Mueni | 33,114 | 1: 1,375 |
179 | Kibe | 32,800 | 1: 1,389 |
179 | Kiptoo | 32,800 | 1: 1,389 |
181 | Kennedy | 32,721 | 1: 1,392 |
182 | Okeyo | 32,643 | 1: 1,395 |
183 | Kerubo | 32,486 | 1: 1,402 |
184 | Muia | 32,172 | 1: 1,416 |
185 | Chebet | 31,701 | 1: 1,437 |
186 | Wanyama | 31,544 | 1: 1,444 |
187 | Musembi | 31,466 | 1: 1,447 |
187 | Njue | 31,466 | 1: 1,447 |
189 | Omar | 31,387 | 1: 1,451 |
189 | Ouko | 31,387 | 1: 1,451 |
191 | Kiplagat | 30,995 | 1: 1,469 |
192 | Tanui | 30,603 | 1: 1,488 |
193 | Mwangangi | 30,446 | 1: 1,496 |
193 | Kanyi | 30,446 | 1: 1,496 |
195 | Kimutai | 30,367 | 1: 1,500 |
196 | Nduta | 29,975 | 1: 1,519 |
196 | Oketch | 29,975 | 1: 1,519 |
198 | Kamande | 29,583 | 1: 1,540 |
199 | Bosire | 29,504 | 1: 1,544 |
200 | Ogola | 29,347 | 1: 1,552 |