NameCensus.

UK surname

Adebowale

A Yoruba name meaning "the crown has come home," referring to the return of a king or royalty.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Adebowale is 231 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

221

2016, ranked #18,321

Peak year

2010

231 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 221 in 2016, ranked #18,321.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Adebowale surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Adebowale surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Adebowale 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
1997 modern 110 #25,529
1998 modern 106 #26,689
1999 modern 106 #26,885
2000 modern 108 #26,549
2001 modern 105 #26,620
2002 modern 109 #26,552
2003 modern 131 #23,553
2004 modern 146 #22,202
2005 modern 179 #19,467
2006 modern 191 #18,825
2007 modern 202 #18,359
2008 modern 217 #17,693
2009 modern 221 #17,848
2010 modern 231 #17,711
2011 modern 217 #18,271
2012 modern 229 #17,537
2013 modern 223 #18,135
2014 modern 220 #18,471
2015 modern 219 #18,406
2016 modern 221 #18,321

Geography

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Where Adebowales 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 Barking and Dagenham, Camden, Greenwich, Southwark and Hackney. 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 Barking and Dagenham 021 Barking and Dagenham
2 Camden 022 Camden
3 Greenwich 001 Greenwich
4 Southwark 015 Southwark
5 Hackney 006 Hackney

Forenames

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First names often paired with Adebowale

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Adebowale

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Adebowale is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Adebowale 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

Adebowale 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 Adebowale is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Black - African

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

Meaning and origin of Adebowale

The surname ADEBOWALE originated in the Yoruba ethnic group of southwestern Nigeria. It is a compound name made up of the Yoruba words "ade," meaning "crown" or "royalty," and "bowale," which means "comes home."

The name likely emerged in the 17th or 18th century, when the Yoruba kingdoms were at their peak. It may have been given to a child born into a royal or noble family who returned to their ancestral home after a period of absence.

While no specific historical records or manuscripts have been found mentioning the name ADEBOWALE, it is a prime example of the rich cultural heritage and naming traditions of the Yoruba people. The name reflects their emphasis on lineage, social status, and the importance of family ties.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname ADEBOWALE was Adebowale Adefemi (1832-1909), a prominent Yoruba chief and political leader in the late 19th century. He played a significant role in mediating disputes between the British colonial authorities and local rulers in the Lagos area.

Another notable figure was Adebowale Ogundipe (1892-1972), a Nigerian businessman and philanthropist. He founded the influential Ogundipe Group of Companies and was a major donor to educational institutions in his home region of Abeokuta.

In the field of literature, Adebowale Ogundipe (1932-2018) was a renowned Yoruba poet, playwright, and scholar. He was instrumental in preserving and promoting the Yoruba language and cultural traditions through his literary works.

Adebowale Adedoyin Aromasodu (1906-1985) was a Nigerian lawyer and statesman who served as the Attorney General of the Western Region of Nigeria in the 1950s. He played a crucial role in the country's transition to independence from British rule.

More recently, Adebowale Adefuye (1951-2021) was a distinguished Nigerian diplomat who served as his country's ambassador to several nations, including the United States and Ireland.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the surname ADEBOWALE throughout history, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and contributions of the Yoruba people to various fields.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Adebowale surname: questions and answers

How common is the Adebowale surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 221 in 2016. That gives Adebowale a modern rank of #18,321.

What does the Adebowale surname mean?

A Yoruba name meaning "the crown has come home," referring to the return of a king or royalty.

What does the Adebowale map show?

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