NameCensus.

UK surname

Ajayi

One who is as brave as a warrior or one who possesses the strength of a warrior.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ajayi is 1,476 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

1,475

2016, ranked #4,176

Peak year

2010

1,476 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,475 in 2016, ranked #4,176.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Ajayi surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ajayi surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ajayi 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 509 #9,181
1998 modern 572 #8,663
1999 modern 600 #8,438
2000 modern 609 #8,347
2001 modern 591 #8,377
2002 modern 742 #7,167
2003 modern 818 #6,535
2004 modern 926 #5,947
2005 modern 1,070 #5,255
2006 modern 1,204 #4,757
2007 modern 1,288 #4,525
2008 modern 1,337 #4,403
2009 modern 1,395 #4,344
2010 modern 1,476 #4,240
2011 modern 1,378 #4,415
2012 modern 1,392 #4,324
2013 modern 1,447 #4,258
2014 modern 1,475 #4,226
2015 modern 1,467 #4,216
2016 modern 1,475 #4,176

Geography

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Where Ajayis 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 Southwark and Greenwich. 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 Southwark 019 Southwark
2 Greenwich 002 Greenwich
3 Greenwich 015 Greenwich
4 Greenwich 003 Greenwich
5 Greenwich 011 Greenwich

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ajayi

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ajayi

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

Ajayi 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

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

Meaning and origin of Ajayi

The surname AJAYI originates from the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. It can be traced back to the 15th century in the region that is now modern-day Ogun State and Lagos State. The name is derived from the Yoruba word "Aja," meaning a skilled person or warrior, and "Iyi," meaning to live or reside.

The earliest recorded instances of the AJAYI surname can be found in oral traditions and historical accounts from the Oyo Empire and the Ijebu Kingdom. The name is associated with notable warriors, chiefs, and community leaders during this era. One of the earliest documented individuals bearing the name was Ajayi Ogundele, a renowned warrior and military commander who lived in the late 16th century.

Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, the AJAYI name appeared in various records and manuscripts kept by local chiefs and rulers in the Yoruba region. These documents often chronicled important events, lineages, and the exploits of notable individuals within the community.

In the 19th century, the name gained further prominence with individuals such as Ajayi Crowther (1809-1891), a renowned linguist, scholar, and the first African bishop of the Anglican Church. Another notable figure was Ajayi Agbede (1845-1917), a prominent trader and community leader in the city of Lagos.

During the 20th century, several individuals with the AJAYI surname made significant contributions in various fields. These include Ajayi Ade Akinwande (1900-1962), a respected educator and writer; Ajayi Crowther Awolowo (1909-1967), a prominent Anglican priest and theologian; and Ajayi Festus Ajayi (1927-2021), a renowned historian and academic who served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos.

Other notable individuals with the AJAYI surname include Ajayi Babalola (1904-1959), a renowned evangelist and founder of the Christ Apostolic Church, and Ajayi Bamidele (born 1954), a Nigerian politician and former member of the House of Representatives.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Ajayi surname: questions and answers

How common is the Ajayi surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,475 in 2016. That gives Ajayi a modern rank of #4,176.

What does the Ajayi surname mean?

One who is as brave as a warrior or one who possesses the strength of a warrior.

What does the Ajayi map show?

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