NameCensus.

UK surname

Afolabi

One who is born into wealth, power, and abundance.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Afolabi is 638 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

632

2016, ranked #8,362

Peak year

2010

638 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 632 in 2016, ranked #8,362.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Afolabi surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Afolabi surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Afolabi 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 158 #20,422
1998 modern 170 #20,030
1999 modern 182 #19,317
2000 modern 192 #18,683
2001 modern 194 #18,287
2002 modern 222 #17,147
2003 modern 266 #14,987
2004 modern 342 #12,645
2005 modern 419 #10,802
2006 modern 489 #9,633
2007 modern 503 #9,524
2008 modern 537 #9,126
2009 modern 581 #8,793
2010 modern 638 #8,365
2011 modern 601 #8,682
2012 modern 591 #8,706
2013 modern 600 #8,752
2014 modern 630 #8,453
2015 modern 619 #8,517
2016 modern 632 #8,362

Geography

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Where Afolabis 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 Bexley, Greenwich and Lambeth. 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 Bexley 002 Bexley
2 Greenwich 002 Greenwich
3 Bexley 001 Bexley
4 Greenwich 011 Greenwich
5 Lambeth 009 Lambeth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Afolabi

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Afolabi

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

Afolabi 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

Afolabi 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 Afolabi 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 Afolabi, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Afolabi

The surname AFOLABI originates from the Yoruba ethnic group of southwestern Nigeria. It is believed to have emerged around the 14th century during the height of the Oyo Empire, one of the most powerful kingdoms in West Africa at the time.

AFOLABI is a compound name derived from the Yoruba words "Afi" meaning "to be born" and "Olabi" meaning "born of wealth or honor." It was likely given to children born into affluent or respected families as a way to signify their privileged status.

While no specific historical references or manuscripts mentioning the name AFOLABI have been found, it is believed to have been commonly used among the Yoruba nobility and ruling class during the pre-colonial era.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name AFOLABI can be found in the writings of Samuel Ajayi Crowther, a Yoruba explorer and linguist who lived from 1809 to 1891. Crowther documented various Yoruba names and their meanings in his works, including AFOLABI.

Over the centuries, several notable individuals have held the surname AFOLABI. One such person was Chief Obafemi Afolabi, a prominent Yoruba chief and landowner in the 19th century. Another was Alhaji Isa Afolabi, a highly respected Islamic scholar and teacher who lived in the early 20th century.

In more recent times, Afolabi Olabimtan was a renowned Nigerian painter and sculptor who lived from 1932 to 2017. His works celebrated Yoruba culture and traditions. Additionally, Tunde Afolabi was a Nigerian musician and bandleader who helped popularize Afrobeat music in the late 20th century.

While the surname AFOLABI is primarily associated with the Yoruba people of Nigeria, it has also been adopted by other ethnic groups in the region, further contributing to its rich cultural heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Afolabi surname: questions and answers

How common is the Afolabi surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 632 in 2016. That gives Afolabi a modern rank of #8,362.

What does the Afolabi surname mean?

One who is born into wealth, power, and abundance.

What does the Afolabi map show?

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