NameCensus.

UK surname

Addo

A Ghanaian surname of Ewe origin, likely meaning "hunter" or "one who hunts."

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Addo is 797 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

713

2016, ranked #7,611

Peak year

2010

797 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 713 in 2016, ranked #7,611.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 7 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Addo surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Addo surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Addo 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
1891 historical 7 #33,665
1997 modern 332 #12,645
1998 modern 337 #12,859
1999 modern 353 #12,522
2000 modern 382 #11,792
2001 modern 382 #11,606
2002 modern 439 #10,656
2003 modern 487 #9,677
2004 modern 560 #8,754
2005 modern 601 #8,267
2006 modern 656 #7,745
2007 modern 705 #7,381
2008 modern 731 #7,250
2009 modern 780 #7,024
2010 modern 797 #7,052
2011 modern 776 #7,117
2012 modern 658 #7,996
2013 modern 688 #7,838
2014 modern 711 #7,678
2015 modern 710 #7,636
2016 modern 713 #7,611

Geography

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Where Addos 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, Greenwich, Croydon and Southwark. 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 019 Merton
2 Greenwich 002 Greenwich
3 Croydon 006 Croydon
4 Southwark 018 Southwark
5 Southwark 019 Southwark

Forenames

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First names often paired with Addo

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Addo

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Addo, 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 Addo 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 Addo 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, Addo 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

Addo 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

Addo falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Addo 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 Addo, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Addo

The surname Addo has its origins in the West African nation of Ghana, and it dates back to the 15th century. It is a surname that was primarily found among the Ewe people, who inhabited the southeastern regions of what is now modern-day Ghana. The name is believed to have derived from the Ewe word "addo," which means "clan" or "family."

In the earliest recorded instances, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Addo," "Adoh," and "Adoe," reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation common in that era. One of the earliest written records of the name can be found in a 16th-century manuscript documenting the lineages of prominent Ewe families.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, as the transatlantic slave trade gained momentum, many individuals bearing the surname Addo were forcibly transported from their homeland to the Americas. Consequently, the name began to appear in historical records of the Caribbean and the United States, often with variations in spelling due to the challenges of transcribing African names into European languages.

One notable figure who bore the surname Addo was Kwame Addo, a prominent Ewe chief who lived in the late 18th century. He played a pivotal role in negotiating trade agreements between the Ewe people and European merchants, and his name is documented in several historical accounts of the time.

In the 19th century, a prominent Ghanaian scholar and educator named John Addo made significant contributions to the advancement of education in the region. Born in 1845, he established several schools and advocated for the importance of education, particularly for women and girls.

Another individual of historical significance was Kwasi Addo, a skilled craftsman and woodcarver who lived in the early 20th century. His intricate wooden sculptures and carvings are now displayed in various museums and art galleries, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the Ewe people.

During the 20th century, the name Addo gained further recognition internationally. One notable figure was Kofi Addo, a Ghanaian diplomat who served as his country's ambassador to the United Nations in the 1960s. He played a crucial role in promoting Ghana's interests on the global stage and advocating for the cause of African independence and unity.

Another prominent individual bearing the surname Addo was Ama Addo, a renowned Ghanaian writer and activist. Born in 1932, she used her literary works to shed light on social issues and the experiences of women in Ghana. Her novels and short stories have been widely acclaimed and translated into several languages.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Addo surname: questions and answers

How common is the Addo surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 713 in 2016. That gives Addo a modern rank of #7,611.

What does the Addo surname mean?

A Ghanaian surname of Ewe origin, likely meaning "hunter" or "one who hunts."

What does the Addo map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Addo 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.