Okoye is a

family name In many societies, a surname, family name, or last name is the mostly hereditary portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family. It is typically combined with a given name to form the full name of a person, although several give ...

(

surname In many societies, a surname, family name, or last name is the mostly hereditary portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family. It is typically combined with a given name to form the full name of a person, although several give ...

) originating in

Nigeria Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It covers an area of . With Demographics of Nigeria, ...

. It is an

Anambra Anambra () is a state in Nigeria. It is located in the South-eastern region of the country. The state was created on 27 August 1991. Anambra state is bounded by Delta State to the west, Imo State and Rivers State to the south, Enugu State to ...

dialect derived from the central

Igbo name Igbo names are traditionally and historically constructed. In this convention there are no family names, instead one is known through their immediate male lineage. In the olden days, Igbos – men and women – were named after the four market ...

Okorie (meaning someone born on orie market day, or Oye market day as known in Anambra State).

Notable people with the name "Okoye" include

Amobi Okoye Amobi Okoye (born June 10, 1987) is a Nigerian former professional player of American football who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Louisville Cardinals football, Louisville Cardin ...

, Nigerian-American National Football League defensive tackle for the Chicago Bears *

Christian Okoye Christian Emeka Okoye (; born August 16, 1961) is a Nigerian–American former professional football fullback who played for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL) from 1987 to 1992. Nicknamed "the Nigerian Nightmare", he ...

, Nigerian-American former National Football League running back for the Kansas City Chiefs * C. J. Okoye (born 2001), Nigerian-American football player *

Ebele Okoye Ebele Okoye also known as "Omenka Ulonka" is a Berlin-based Nigerian/German independent Animation producer/director, designer, and multi-media artist. She was born on October 6, 1969, in Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria. Being Nigeria's first fem ...

, Nigerian painter * Godfrey Okoye, Nigerian Catholic bishop *

Kelechi Okoye Kelechi Okoye-Ahaneku (born 28 May 1984) was a Nigerian football player, who last played for Rangdajied United in the I-League 2nd Division in India. International career He was the Captain of the Nigeria national under-20 football team in 20 ...

, Nigerian professional football player *

Lawrence Okoye Lawrence Okoye (born 6 October 1991) is a British track and field athlete and former American football defensive tackle. He is the British record holder in the discus event. Okoye became the first ever British athlete to win a medal in Discus ...

, British record holder in men's discus and National Football League defensive end for the

Miami Dolphins The Miami Dolphins are a professional American football team based in the Miami metropolitan area. The Dolphins compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East division. The team ...

Louis Okoye is a Japanese professional baseball outfielder for the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Career After the 2017 season, Okoye joined Cañeros de Los Mochis. Personal life Okoye's mother is Japanese and his father is Igbo ...

, Japanese-Nigerian baseball player *

Monica Okoye is a Japanese professional basketball player for the Canberra Capitals of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). She also plays for the Japanese national team. Early life Okoye was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan. She attended Myojo Ga ...

, Japanese-Nigerian basketball player *

Nkeiru Okoye Nkeiru Okoye (born July 18, 1972) is an American composer and musician. She has composed many works based on American history, including ''Harriet Tubman: When I Crossed That Line to Freedom, Invitation to a Die-In'' and "The Journey of Phillis W ...

(born 1972), African American composer *

Nwamaka Okoye Nwamaka Nwobi Okoye is a Nigerian interior architect, author, and social entrepreneur. She is known for her work in design, entrepreneurship, and advocacy for ethical leadership in encouraging members of the African diaspora to return to contrib ...

, Nigerian interior architect, writer and social entrepreneur *

Oge Okoye Oge Okoye (; born 16 November 1980) is a Nigerian actress. She is from Nnewi in Anambra State, but was born and educated in London. Education Okoye attended the University Primary School Enugu and moved on to the Holy Rosary College, Enugu for ...

, Nigerian actress *

Pericoma Okoye Pericomo Damian Azubike Nwankwo Okoye (1948 – February 16, 2017), known as Pericoma, was a Nigerian singer, songwriter and traditionist. In addition to his music, he was known as a practitioner of Odinala, the traditional religion of the Igbo ...

, Nigerian singer and traditionist *

Sam Okoye Sam Okoye (1 May 1980 – 31 August 2005) was a Nigerian football goalkeeper who represented Nigeria during the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship The 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship took place in Nigeria between 3 and 24 April 1999. Th ...

, Nigerian former professional

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

player *

Samuel Okoye Samuel Ejikeme Okoye (26 July 1939 – 18 November 2009) was a Nigerian astrophysicist from Amawbia in Anambra State, Nigeria. Okoye was the first Black African to obtain a doctorate degree in radio astronomy. Early life and education Okoye wa ...

, Nigerian astrophysicist *

Stan Okoye Stanley Onyekachukwu Okoye (born April 10, 1991) is a Nigerian professional basketball player for BC Andorra, MoraBanc Andorra of the Liga ACB. A 6'6" swingman, he was named the 2012–13 Big South Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year wh ...

, Nigerian-American basketball player * Ugo Okoye, Nigerian former professional football player

References

Igbo names