NameCensus.

UK surname

Bekoe

A surname derived from the Akan word for "plaintain".

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bekoe is 128 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

128

2016, ranked #26,401

Peak year

2016

128 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 128 in 2016, ranked #26,401.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Bekoe surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bekoe surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bekoe 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
1861 historical 3 #33,861
1997 modern 41 #33,552
1998 modern 47 #33,197
1999 modern 51 #32,940
2000 modern 58 #32,317
2001 modern 57 #32,275
2002 modern 67 #31,723
2003 modern 68 #31,689
2004 modern 83 #30,352
2005 modern 94 #28,973
2006 modern 109 #26,872
2007 modern 120 #25,606
2008 modern 119 #26,067
2009 modern 126 #25,686
2010 modern 125 #26,448
2011 modern 116 #27,477
2012 modern 113 #28,016
2013 modern 124 #26,842
2014 modern 126 #26,781
2015 modern 122 #27,245
2016 modern 128 #26,401

Geography

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Where Bekoes 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 Wandsworth, Lambeth, Haringey, Lewisham and Hillingdon. 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 Wandsworth 024 Wandsworth
2 Lambeth 011 Lambeth
3 Haringey 008 Haringey
4 Lewisham 001 Lewisham
5 Hillingdon 030 Hillingdon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bekoe

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

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

Bekoe 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

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

Meaning and origin of Bekoe

The surname Bekoe is believed to have originated in West Africa, specifically in the country of Ghana. It is derived from the Akan language, which is spoken by several ethnic groups in Ghana, including the Ashanti and Fante.

The name Bekoe is thought to be a combination of two Akan words, "beko" meaning "to wander" and "e" meaning "he/she/it." Thus, Bekoe could be interpreted as "the wanderer" or "one who wanders." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who traveled extensively or led a nomadic lifestyle.

Historical records indicate that the Bekoe surname was present in Ghana as early as the 16th century. During this period, the Ashanti Empire was one of the most powerful kingdoms in West Africa, and it is possible that the name originated within this empire.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Bekoe was Nana Bekoe I, a prominent chief of the Ashanti people who ruled in the late 17th century. He was known for his military prowess and played a significant role in expanding the Ashanti Empire's territory.

Another notable figure was Osei Bekoe, an Ashanti nobleman who lived in the 18th century. He served as a diplomat and was instrumental in negotiating treaties with European powers, such as the British and the Dutch, who had established trading posts along the Ghanaian coast.

In the 19th century, a man named Kwasi Bekoe gained recognition as a successful trader and entrepreneur. He established trade routes between Ghana and neighboring countries, facilitating the exchange of goods and contributing to the economic development of the region.

Moving into the 20th century, Kwame Bekoe was a respected journalist and political activist who advocated for Ghana's independence from British colonial rule. He founded several newspapers and used his platform to raise awareness about the struggle for self-governance.

In more recent times, Asamoah Bekoe made a name for himself as a professional soccer player. Born in 1987, he played for several clubs in Ghana and Europe, including the prestigious Spanish team Sevilla FC.

While the surname Bekoe has its roots in Ghana, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins can be traced back to the rich cultural heritage of the Akan people in West Africa.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Bekoe surname: questions and answers

How common is the Bekoe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 128 in 2016. That gives Bekoe a modern rank of #26,401.

What does the Bekoe surname mean?

A surname derived from the Akan word for "plaintain".

What does the Bekoe map show?

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