This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Kanu family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Kanu Family History

Kanu Surname Meaning

West African (Nigeria): Igbo name from a shortened form of Kamanu the name of the traditional Igbo god of thunder and lightning which is also called Kamalu (see Kalu).

West African (mainly Sierra Leone): from the name of the Kanu clan of the Sierra Leonean Loko people and subsequently of the Temne people of unexplained etymology.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Kanu family from?

You can see how Kanu families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Kanu family name was found in the USA in 1920. In 1920 there was 1 Kanu family living in Michigan. This was 100% of all the recorded Kanu's in USA. Michigan had the highest population of Kanu families in 1920.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Kanu surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What Kanu family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 106 census records available for the last name Kanu. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Kanu census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Kanu

Passenger Lists

There are 105 immigration records available for the last name Kanu. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Kanu immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 56 military records available for the last name Kanu. For the veterans among your Kanu ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Kanu military records

You've only scratched the surface of Kanu family history

Discover More

What is the average Kanu lifespan?

Between 1982 and 2004, in the United States, Kanu life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1982, and highest in 1995. The average life expectancy for Kanu in 1982 was 34, and 55 in 2004.

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Kanu ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Kanu family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial