NameCensus.

UK surname

Badu

A surname of African origin, possibly derived from the Yoruba word "bàdùrà" meaning "hunter".

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Badu is 236 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

236

2016, ranked #17,470

Peak year

2016

236 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 236 in 2016, ranked #17,470.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Badu surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Badu surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Badu 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 73 #30,306
1998 modern 77 #30,289
1999 modern 83 #29,823
2000 modern 81 #30,036
2001 modern 86 #29,281
2002 modern 99 #28,082
2003 modern 101 #27,561
2004 modern 132 #23,625
2005 modern 140 #22,774
2006 modern 156 #21,399
2007 modern 176 #20,028
2008 modern 187 #19,465
2009 modern 195 #19,329
2010 modern 203 #19,264
2011 modern 193 #19,729
2012 modern 200 #19,207
2013 modern 214 #18,671
2014 modern 220 #18,471
2015 modern 228 #17,899
2016 modern 236 #17,470

Geography

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Where Badus 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, Hounslow, Newham, Croydon 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 024 Enfield
2 Hounslow 003 Hounslow
3 Newham 032 Newham
4 Croydon 011 Croydon
5 Southwark 015 Southwark

Forenames

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First names often paired with Badu

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Badu

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

Badu 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

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

Meaning and origin of Badu

The surname BADU originates from the West African country of Ghana. It is believed to have emerged in the 16th century among the Akan people, who make up the largest ethnic group in the region. The name is thought to be derived from the Akan word "badu," which translates to "hunter" or "one who hunts."

In its earliest recorded forms, the name was spelled as "Badu" or "Bado," reflecting the phonetic variations common in spoken Akan dialects. The name first appeared in written records during the late 17th century, when European traders and explorers began documenting their interactions with the coastal Akan communities.

One of the earliest known references to the BADU name can be found in the records of the Dutch West India Company, which established trading posts along the Gold Coast (now Ghana) in the 1600s. These records mention individuals with the name "Badu" or "Bado" who served as intermediaries or guides for the Dutch traders.

As the centuries progressed, the BADU name spread beyond its Akan origins and became more widely adopted across Ghana and neighboring regions of West Africa. Notable individuals bearing this surname include:

1. Kwasi Badu (c. 1710-1780), a prominent Akan chief and diplomat who negotiated trade agreements with European powers in the mid-18th century.

2. Nana Akyaa Badu (1825-1892), a respected queen mother of the Ashanti kingdom, known for her influential role in political and cultural affairs.

3. Kwame Badu (1887-1961), a Ghanaian educator and writer who published works on Akan folklore and traditions.

4. Amma Badu (1918-2001), a pioneering Ghanaian nurse and midwife who helped establish modern healthcare practices in rural communities.

5. Erykah Badu (born 1971), an acclaimed American singer-songwriter and actress, known for her unique blend of R&B, soul, and jazz music.

While the BADU name has spread globally due to migration and cultural exchange, its roots can be traced back to the Akan people of Ghana and their rich cultural heritage as hunters and traders in West Africa.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Badu surname: questions and answers

How common is the Badu surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 236 in 2016. That gives Badu a modern rank of #17,470.

What does the Badu surname mean?

A surname of African origin, possibly derived from the Yoruba word "bàdùrà" meaning "hunter".

What does the Badu map show?

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