NameCensus.

UK surname

Akanbi

One who was born feet first.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Akanbi is 194 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

179

2016, ranked #21,086

Peak year

2010

194 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 179 in 2016, ranked #21,086.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Akanbi surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Akanbi surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Akanbi 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 47 #32,975
1998 modern 52 #32,732
1999 modern 55 #32,561
2000 modern 57 #32,417
2001 modern 58 #32,180
2002 modern 77 #30,709
2003 modern 81 #30,311
2004 modern 112 #26,159
2005 modern 125 #24,398
2006 modern 143 #22,619
2007 modern 159 #21,387
2008 modern 162 #21,350
2009 modern 169 #21,190
2010 modern 194 #19,819
2011 modern 192 #19,797
2012 modern 183 #20,356
2013 modern 190 #20,201
2014 modern 190 #20,374
2015 modern 182 #20,856
2016 modern 179 #21,086

Geography

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Where Akanbis 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, Bexley, Greenwich and Lewisham. 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 026 Southwark
2 Southwark 018 Southwark
3 Bexley 020 Bexley
4 Greenwich 004 Greenwich
5 Lewisham 026 Lewisham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Akanbi

These lists show first names that appear often with the Akanbi 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 Akanbi

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

Akanbi 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

Akanbi 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 Akanbi is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 mbit/s.

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

7
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Black - African

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

Meaning and origin of Akanbi

The surname Akanbi has its origins in the Yoruba ethnic group of southwestern Nigeria. It is a traditional Yoruba name that dates back several centuries. The name is derived from the Yoruba words "akan" meaning "firstborn" and "bi" meaning "to give birth to".

The name Akanbi was likely first used to refer to the firstborn child in a family, particularly a firstborn son. It emerged as a surname during the period when Yoruba communities adopted hereditary surnames, which is believed to have occurred sometime in the 18th or 19th century.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Akanbi can be found in historical records and documents from the region now known as Oyo State, Nigeria. This area was once part of the powerful Oyo Empire, a Yoruba kingdom that flourished between the 16th and 19th centuries.

One notable historical figure with the surname Akanbi was Akanbi Olugbade, a prominent Yoruba chief and military leader who lived in the late 18th century. He played a crucial role in the defense of the Oyo Empire against invading forces from the neighboring Nupe and Fulani empires.

Another individual of historical significance was Akanbi Agbaje, a Yoruba trader and merchant who lived in the early 19th century. He was involved in the lucrative trade routes that connected the interior of West Africa with the coastal regions, facilitating the exchange of goods such as kola nuts, textiles, and agricultural products.

In the early 20th century, Akanbi Akindele was a renowned Yoruba educator and advocate for literacy and education. He established several schools in the region and played a pivotal role in promoting education among the Yoruba people.

During the colonial era in Nigeria, Akanbi Adekunle was a prominent Yoruba chief who worked to preserve Yoruba cultural traditions and customs in the face of colonial rule. He was also instrumental in mediating disputes between the British colonial authorities and local communities.

More recently, Akanbi Ayeni was a celebrated Yoruba artist and sculptor who lived from 1928 to 2012. His works, which often depicted Yoruba mythology and traditional life, are widely acclaimed and can be found in museums and collections around the world.

While the surname Akanbi is most commonly associated with the Yoruba people of Nigeria, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins can be traced back to the rich cultural heritage and history of the Yoruba ethnic group in southwestern Nigeria.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Akanbi surname: questions and answers

How common is the Akanbi surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 179 in 2016. That gives Akanbi a modern rank of #21,086.

What does the Akanbi surname mean?

One who was born feet first.

What does the Akanbi map show?

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