NameCensus.

UK surname

Amankwah

A Ghanaian surname meaning "path maker" or "trail blazer".

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Amankwah is 289 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

289

2016, ranked #15,137

Peak year

2016

289 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 289 in 2016, ranked #15,137.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Amankwah surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Amankwah surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Amankwah 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 83 #29,216
1998 modern 91 #28,806
1999 modern 89 #29,168
2000 modern 100 #27,695
2001 modern 98 #27,672
2002 modern 121 #24,984
2003 modern 139 #22,734
2004 modern 176 #19,731
2005 modern 202 #18,016
2006 modern 204 #18,051
2007 modern 223 #17,248
2008 modern 236 #16,736
2009 modern 254 #16,230
2010 modern 279 #15,529
2011 modern 252 #16,543
2012 modern 267 #15,791
2013 modern 280 #15,530
2014 modern 284 #15,455
2015 modern 281 #15,457
2016 modern 289 #15,137

Geography

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Where Amankwahs 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 Enfield, Haringey 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 Enfield 025 Enfield
2 Haringey 015 Haringey
3 Southwark 026 Southwark
4 Enfield 030 Enfield
5 Haringey 002 Haringey

Forenames

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First names often paired with Amankwah

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

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

Amankwah 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

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

Meaning and origin of Amankwah

The surname Amankwah is of Ghanaian origin and can be traced back to the Akan people of Ghana and the Ivory Coast. It is believed to have originated in the 17th or 18th century. The name Amankwah is derived from the Akan words "aman," meaning peace, and "kwa," meaning born or birthed. Together, the name can be interpreted to mean "born into peace" or "peacemaker."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Amankwah can be found in the historical records of the Ashanti Kingdom, a powerful empire that ruled parts of present-day Ghana from the late 17th century to the late 19th century. The name appears in various documents and chronicles from this period, indicating its significance among the Akan people.

In the 19th century, a notable figure named Kwaku Amankwah (1820-1892) was a prominent chief and leader of the Ashanti people. He played a crucial role in the negotiations between the Ashanti Kingdom and the British colonial authorities during the latter part of the century.

Another individual of historical significance was Nana Amankwah Buadu (1860-1935), a renowned farmer and landowner from the Ashanti region. He was widely respected for his agricultural expertise and his contribution to the development of sustainable farming practices in his community.

In the 20th century, Dr. Yaw Amankwah (1928-2010) was a prominent Ghanaian academic and scholar. He served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana and made significant contributions to the advancement of higher education in the country.

Kwesi Amankwah (1946-2018) was a celebrated Ghanaian author and poet, known for his works that explored themes of identity, culture, and the African diaspora. His poetry collections, including "The Tears of a Patriarch" and "Echoes of a Cry," received critical acclaim both in Ghana and internationally.

The surname Amankwah has also been associated with various place names and locations in Ghana, such as Amankwahene, a town in the Ashanti Region, and Amankwahia, a village in the Eastern Region. These place names often reflect the historical presence and influence of individuals or families with the Amankwah surname in those areas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Amankwah surname: questions and answers

How common is the Amankwah surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 289 in 2016. That gives Amankwah a modern rank of #15,137.

What does the Amankwah surname mean?

A Ghanaian surname meaning "path maker" or "trail blazer".

What does the Amankwah map show?

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