NameCensus.

UK surname

Ajala

One who fights for wealth or prosperity, or one who struggles to acquire wealth.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ajala is 305 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

287

2016, ranked #15,212

Peak year

2010

305 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 287 in 2016, ranked #15,212.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Ajala surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ajala surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ajala 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 118 #24,423
1998 modern 118 #25,041
1999 modern 137 #23,083
2000 modern 147 #22,081
2001 modern 145 #21,951
2002 modern 166 #20,532
2003 modern 184 #19,075
2004 modern 199 #18,260
2005 modern 218 #17,170
2006 modern 234 #16,493
2007 modern 264 #15,344
2008 modern 272 #15,152
2009 modern 286 #14,910
2010 modern 305 #14,561
2011 modern 279 #15,353
2012 modern 274 #15,498
2013 modern 289 #15,142
2014 modern 290 #15,203
2015 modern 288 #15,190
2016 modern 287 #15,212

Geography

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Where Ajalas 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 Hackney, Greenwich, Barking and Dagenham 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 Hackney 002 Hackney
2 Greenwich 034 Greenwich
3 Barking and Dagenham 013 Barking and Dagenham
4 Greenwich 002 Greenwich
5 Southwark 019 Southwark

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ajala

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ajala

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

Ajala 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

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

Meaning and origin of Ajala

The surname Ajala is of Yoruba origin, tracing its roots back to the present-day southwestern region of Nigeria. It emerged during the 15th century, a time when the Yoruba kingdoms were flourishing and exerting significant cultural influence across West Africa. The name is believed to derive from the Yoruba word "àjàlá," which translates to "a person of affluence" or "one who possesses wealth."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Ajala surname can be found in oral histories and traditional folktales passed down through generations in Yoruba communities. These narratives often referenced influential individuals bearing the name, suggesting its association with prosperity and societal standing. However, due to the scarcity of written records from that era, precise dates and details remain elusive.

The earliest written mention of the Ajala surname is found in a 17th-century compilation of Yoruba proverbs and wise sayings, where it is used to exemplify virtues such as diligence and resourcefulness. This text, titled "Ìwé Àwon Àrò Yorùbá" (Book of Yoruba Proverbs), serves as a valuable historical reference, providing insights into the cultural significance of the name during that period.

One notable individual who bore the Ajala surname was Oba Oyawale Ajala, a revered ruler of the Ibadan Kingdom in the late 18th century. Known for his diplomatic skills and military prowess, he played a pivotal role in expanding the kingdom's influence and fostering economic prosperity. His reign is widely celebrated in Yoruba folklore and oral traditions.

In the 19th century, Chief Oluyole Ajala emerged as a prominent figure in the Oyo Empire. A skilled administrator and negotiator, he facilitated trade agreements and alliances that contributed to the empire's economic growth and stability. His legacy lives on through the Oluyole Estate, a prominent residential area in present-day Ibadan named in his honor.

Another noteworthy individual was Reverend Josiah Olunloyo Ajala, a pioneering Christian missionary who played a significant role in spreading Christianity among the Yoruba people in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His efforts in translating religious texts and establishing churches left an indelible mark on the region's religious landscape.

While historical records provide glimpses into the prominence of the Ajala surname over the centuries, it's important to note that the name has likely been borne by countless other individuals whose stories have yet to be uncovered or documented.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Ajala surname: questions and answers

How common is the Ajala surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 287 in 2016. That gives Ajala a modern rank of #15,212.

What does the Ajala surname mean?

One who fights for wealth or prosperity, or one who struggles to acquire wealth.

What does the Ajala map show?

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