NameCensus.

UK surname

Antwi

A Ghanaian surname originating from the Akan people meaning "born second" or "junior twin".

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Antwi is 743 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

743

2016, ranked #7,347

Peak year

2016

743 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 743 in 2016, ranked #7,347.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Antwi surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Antwi surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Antwi 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 211 #17,048
1998 modern 227 #16,754
1999 modern 239 #16,268
2000 modern 246 #15,914
2001 modern 239 #15,963
2002 modern 290 #14,314
2003 modern 325 #13,104
2004 modern 382 #11,672
2005 modern 456 #10,111
2006 modern 507 #9,386
2007 modern 582 #8,555
2008 modern 617 #8,228
2009 modern 651 #8,057
2010 modern 674 #8,014
2011 modern 658 #8,080
2012 modern 633 #8,242
2013 modern 683 #7,886
2014 modern 714 #7,654
2015 modern 721 #7,555
2016 modern 743 #7,347

Geography

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Where Antwis 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 Brent, Enfield, Waltham Forest 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 Brent 027 Brent
2 Enfield 014 Enfield
3 Waltham Forest 027 Waltham Forest
4 Enfield 023 Enfield
5 Lambeth 022 Lambeth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Antwi

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Antwi

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Antwi is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Antwi 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

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

Meaning and origin of Antwi

The surname Antwi is a Ghanaian name with origins in the Akan language spoken in parts of Ghana and Ivory Coast. It is believed to have originated in the Ashanti region of Ghana during the medieval period.

Antwi is derived from the Akan word "ɔntɔ", which translates to "monkey" or "primate". It is thought to have originally been given as a descriptive surname, likely referring to a physical characteristic or personality trait resembling that of a monkey. In some instances, the name may have been bestowed upon those who kept monkeys as pets or worked with these animals.

While there are no known historical records or manuscripts specifically mentioning the surname Antwi, it is likely that variations of the name appeared in oral histories and local records of the Ashanti people. The earliest recorded instances of the name in written form date back to the late 19th century, coinciding with the establishment of British colonial rule in Ghana.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Antwi was Kwaku Antwi, a chief of the Ashanti people who lived in the late 18th century. He is said to have played a significant role in negotiating treaties with the British during the early stages of their colonization efforts.

Another notable figure was Nana Yaa Antwi, a powerful queen mother of the Ashanti Kingdom who lived in the mid-19th century. She was instrumental in advising and guiding the Ashanti rulers during a time of conflict with the British.

In the early 20th century, Joseph Ephraim Antwi was a prominent Ghanaian educator and writer. He authored several books on Ghanaian culture and history, helping to preserve the traditions of the Akan people.

Kwame Antwi was a Ghanaian politician and activist who played a crucial role in the country's independence movement in the 1950s. He served as a member of parliament and worked closely with Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's first president.

More recently, Nana Adjoa Antwi was a celebrated Ghanaian artist and sculptor who gained international recognition for her intricate woodcarvings depicting scenes from Akan folklore and daily life. She was born in 1932 and passed away in 2000.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Antwi surname: questions and answers

How common is the Antwi surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 743 in 2016. That gives Antwi a modern rank of #7,347.

What does the Antwi surname mean?

A Ghanaian surname originating from the Akan people meaning "born second" or "junior twin".

What does the Antwi map show?

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