NameCensus.

UK surname

Asante

An Akan surname originating from Ghana, meaning 'thank you' or 'gratitude'.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Asante is 1,050 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

1,050

2016, ranked #5,548

Peak year

2016

1,050 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,050 in 2016, ranked #5,548.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Asante surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Asante surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Asante 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 365 #11,804
1998 modern 390 #11,563
1999 modern 412 #11,203
2000 modern 440 #10,629
2001 modern 439 #10,447
2002 modern 517 #9,418
2003 modern 551 #8,831
2004 modern 647 #7,867
2005 modern 722 #7,151
2006 modern 780 #6,764
2007 modern 861 #6,311
2008 modern 921 #6,030
2009 modern 950 #6,002
2010 modern 1,004 #5,860
2011 modern 960 #6,023
2012 modern 915 #6,168
2013 modern 947 #6,101
2014 modern 988 #5,917
2015 modern 1,021 #5,713
2016 modern 1,050 #5,548

Geography

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Where Asantes 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 Croydon, Lambeth, Southwark and Hackney. 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 Croydon 015 Croydon
2 Lambeth 003 Lambeth
3 Croydon 020 Croydon
4 Southwark 021 Southwark
5 Hackney 016 Hackney

Forenames

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First names often paired with Asante

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Asante

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

Asante 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

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

Meaning and origin of Asante

The surname "ASANTE" originates from the Akan people of Ghana, West Africa. It is derived from the Akan word "asante," which means "because of war" or "due to war." The name likely originated during the 17th or 18th century, when the Asante Empire, a powerful kingdom in present-day Ghana, was at its peak.

The Asante Empire was founded in the late 17th century by Osei Tutu, who united several Akan states and established the capital at Kumasi. The empire became known for its military prowess, with the Asante warriors renowned for their skill and bravery in battle. It is possible that the name "ASANTE" was given to individuals or families who distinguished themselves in the wars or conflicts of the Asante Empire.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name "ASANTE" can be found in the writings of European travelers and traders who visited the region during the 18th and 19th centuries. These accounts often described the Asante people and their customs, sometimes referring to individual Asante leaders or warriors by name.

One notable bearer of the name "ASANTE" was Nana Yaa Asantewaa, a influential queen mother who led the Asante rebellion against British colonial rule in 1900. She was born around 1840 and played a crucial role in rallying the Asante forces against the British, earning her a place in Ghanaian history as a symbol of resistance and courage.

Another famous person with the surname "ASANTE" was Kwame Asante, a Ghanaian writer and academic who was born in 1933. He was a professor of African American Studies at Temple University and wrote extensively on African and African American culture, including the influential book "Afrocentricity."

In more recent times, Kofi Annan, the former Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1997 to 2006, had the surname "Annan," which is a variant spelling of "ASANTE." Annan was born in 1938 in Kumasi, the former capital of the Asante Empire, and played a pivotal role in international diplomacy and conflict resolution.

Additionally, Kwadwo Asante Atwere, a Ghanaian politician and diplomat, served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ghana from 1997 to 2001. He was born in 1936 and had a long career in public service, representing Ghana on the international stage.

Overall, the surname "ASANTE" has a rich history rooted in the Akan culture of Ghana and the legacy of the Asante Empire. It has been borne by individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields, from politics and diplomacy to literature and academia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Asante surname: questions and answers

How common is the Asante surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,050 in 2016. That gives Asante a modern rank of #5,548.

What does the Asante surname mean?

An Akan surname originating from Ghana, meaning 'thank you' or 'gratitude'.

What does the Asante map show?

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