NameCensus.

UK surname

Acquah

A surname of Ghanaian origin, likely derived from a day name given to a child born on Sunday.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Merton, Brent and Southwark.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Acquah is 440 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

398

2016, ranked #11,924

Peak year

2010

440 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 398 in 2016, ranked #11,924.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Acquah surname distribution map

The map shows where the Acquah surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Acquah surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Acquah over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1911 historical 1 #34,332
1997 modern 122 #23,917
1998 modern 152 #21,481
1999 modern 166 #20,458
2000 modern 164 #20,584
2001 modern 167 #20,060
2002 modern 220 #17,249
2003 modern 223 #16,905
2004 modern 256 #15,453
2005 modern 315 #13,375
2006 modern 343 #12,626
2007 modern 368 #12,125
2008 modern 372 #12,123
2009 modern 405 #11,616
2010 modern 440 #11,101
2011 modern 405 #11,765
2012 modern 373 #12,344
2013 modern 382 #12,337
2014 modern 390 #12,239
2015 modern 391 #12,113
2016 modern 398 #11,924

Geography

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Where Acquahs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Merton, Brent, Southwark, Luton and Enfield. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Merton 012 Merton
2 Brent 027 Brent
3 Southwark 021 Southwark
4 Luton 011 Luton
5 Enfield 014 Enfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Acquah

These lists show first names that appear often with the Acquah surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Acquah

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Acquah, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Acquah surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Acquah household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Acquah is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Acquah is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Acquah falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Acquah is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Black - African

This describes the area pattern most associated with Acquah, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Acquah

The surname Acquah has its origins in Ghana, West Africa, and is believed to have emerged during the late 17th or early 18th century. It is derived from the Akan language, spoken by various ethnic groups in Ghana, including the Ashanti and Fante people. The name Acquah is thought to be a variation of the Akan word "akwa," which means "vessel" or "urn."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Acquah can be found in the archives of the British colonial administration in Ghana, then known as the Gold Coast. In the late 18th century, a man named Acquah Mensah is mentioned as a prominent trader and chief in the coastal region of Accra.

During the 19th century, the name Acquah became more widely documented in various historical records and documents related to the Gold Coast. One notable figure was Acquah Hayford, a successful merchant and landowner born in 1831 in Cape Coast. He was known for his extensive trading networks and his influential role in local affairs.

In the early 20th century, a remarkable individual named Acquah Larue (1890-1976) gained recognition as a pioneering Ghanaian educator and advocate for women's rights. She established one of the first schools for girls in Ghana and played a pivotal role in promoting access to education for women in the country.

Another prominent figure bearing the Acquah surname was Kwame Acquah (1915-1982), a renowned Ghanaian lawyer and politician. He served as a member of parliament and played a significant role in Ghana's struggle for independence from British colonial rule.

Historically, the name Acquah has also been associated with certain place names in Ghana, such as Acquah Town, a settlement in the Central Region. It is possible that some variations in spelling, such as Akwah or Akwa, may have existed in earlier times due to the influence of local dialects or regional differences.

Throughout its history, the surname Acquah has been carried by many individuals who have made valuable contributions to various fields, including education, business, law, and politics, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and diversity of Ghana.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Acquah surname: questions and answers

How common is the Acquah surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 398 in 2016. That gives Acquah a modern rank of #11,924.

What does the Acquah surname mean?

A surname of Ghanaian origin, likely derived from a day name given to a child born on Sunday.

What does the Acquah map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Acquah bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.