NameCensus.

UK surname

Dawodu

A surname of Yoruba origin meaning "brought the world into existence".

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dawodu is 264 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

231

2016, ranked #17,764

Peak year

2010

264 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 231 in 2016, ranked #17,764.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Dawodu surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dawodu surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dawodu 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 135 #22,499
1998 modern 153 #21,387
1999 modern 139 #22,884
2000 modern 125 #24,351
2001 modern 118 #24,832
2002 modern 140 #22,876
2003 modern 144 #22,270
2004 modern 161 #20,840
2005 modern 193 #18,572
2006 modern 221 #17,149
2007 modern 234 #16,706
2008 modern 232 #16,931
2009 modern 243 #16,742
2010 modern 264 #16,163
2011 modern 253 #16,493
2012 modern 229 #17,537
2013 modern 233 #17,606
2014 modern 238 #17,480
2015 modern 233 #17,627
2016 modern 231 #17,764

Geography

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Where Dawodus 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 Greenwich, Barking and Dagenham and Newham. 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 Greenwich 001 Greenwich
2 Barking and Dagenham 021 Barking and Dagenham
3 Newham 032 Newham
4 Greenwich 003 Greenwich
5 Barking and Dagenham 014 Barking and Dagenham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dawodu

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dawodu

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

Dawodu 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

Dawodu falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Dawodu 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 Dawodu, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Dawodu

The surname "DAWODU" is of Yoruba origin, originating from southwestern Nigeria. It is believed to have emerged during the 15th or 16th century, when the Yoruba kingdoms were flourishing in the region.

The name "DAWODU" is thought to be derived from the Yoruba words "Dà wò ó dú," which roughly translates to "look upon this and behold." This phrase may have been used to express awe or admiration, possibly referring to an impressive individual or significant event.

Historically, the name has been associated with the Oyo Empire, one of the most powerful Yoruba kingdoms that ruled over a vast territory in present-day southwestern Nigeria and parts of Benin Republic. Records from this period, though limited, may contain references to individuals bearing the name DAWODU.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname DAWODU was Oba Atanda DAWODU, who ruled the Iwoye kingdom, a Yoruba sub-group, in the late 17th century. He is said to have played a significant role in the expansion and consolidation of the kingdom during his reign.

In the 19th century, Chief Olawunmi DAWODU was a prominent figure among the Ijebu people, another Yoruba sub-group. He was known for his diplomatic skills and played a crucial role in negotiating treaties with the British colonial authorities.

Another notable individual with the DAWODU surname was Reverend Samuel Ajayi DAWODU, a Yoruba Christian missionary who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was instrumental in spreading Christianity among the Yoruba people and translating religious texts into the Yoruba language.

During the early 20th century, Chief Obafemi DAWODU was a respected leader and landowner in the Ijebu region. He was known for his philanthropic endeavors and played a significant role in the development of his community.

In more recent times, Professor Adebayo DAWODU, born in 1940, has been a prominent academic and expert in the field of pediatrics. He has authored numerous publications and has contributed significantly to the advancement of child healthcare in Nigeria and beyond.

While the surname DAWODU has its roots in southwestern Nigeria, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins can be traced back to the rich cultural heritage of the Yoruba people and their historical kingdoms.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Dawodu surname: questions and answers

How common is the Dawodu surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 231 in 2016. That gives Dawodu a modern rank of #17,764.

What does the Dawodu surname mean?

A surname of Yoruba origin meaning "brought the world into existence".

What does the Dawodu map show?

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