NameCensus.

UK surname

Diop

A Fulani surname of unknown meaning, likely originating from the Fula language spoken across West Africa.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rochdale, North Leith and Newhaven and Enfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Diop is 113 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

113

2016, ranked #28,691

Peak year

2016

113 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 113 in 2016, ranked #28,691.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Diop surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Diop surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Diop 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 12 #36,785
1998 modern 12 #36,790
1999 modern 18 #36,151
2000 modern 19 #36,007
2001 modern 20 #35,754
2002 modern 28 #35,139
2003 modern 27 #35,279
2004 modern 36 #34,717
2005 modern 30 #35,347
2006 modern 48 #34,245
2007 modern 55 #33,965
2008 modern 58 #33,918
2009 modern 68 #33,341
2010 modern 83 #32,396
2011 modern 69 #33,532
2012 modern 96 #30,949
2013 modern 95 #31,523
2014 modern 107 #29,827
2015 modern 105 #30,092
2016 modern 113 #28,691

Geography

Back to top

Where Diops 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 Rochdale, North Leith and Newhaven, Enfield 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 Rochdale 010 Rochdale
2 North Leith and Newhaven City of Edinburgh
3 Enfield 012 Enfield
4 Enfield 029 Enfield
5 Hackney 013 Hackney

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Diop

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Diop

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

Diop 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

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

Meaning and origin of Diop

The surname Diop originates from Senegal, a country located in West Africa. It is believed to have derived from the Wolof language, one of the most widely spoken languages in Senegal. The name Diop is thought to be a contraction of the phrase "diogou rab", which means "to seek knowledge" or "to be educated".

The earliest recorded instances of the name Diop can be traced back to the 13th century, during the reign of the Wolof Empire in present-day Senegal. The name is closely associated with the Wolof people, an ethnic group known for their rich cultural heritage and traditions.

One of the earliest notable figures with the surname Diop was Cheikh Anta Diop, a Senegalese historian, anthropologist, and scholar born in 1923. He made significant contributions to the study of African history and culture, challenging Eurocentric perspectives and advocating for the recognition of African civilizations' contributions to human civilization.

Another prominent individual with the Diop surname was Birago Diop, a Senegalese poet and playwright born in 1906. His works, such as "Lunes" and "Les Contes d'Ahmadou Koumba", celebrated the oral traditions and folklore of Senegal and served as a testament to the rich cultural heritage of the Wolof people.

In the 19th century, the Diop surname gained recognition with the birth of Ahmadou Bamba Diop (1853-1927), a Sufi Muslim scholar and the founder of the Mouridism movement in Senegal. His teachings and philosophy had a profound impact on the spiritual and social fabric of Senegal.

The name Diop has also been associated with various place names in Senegal, such as the villages of Diop Mbao and Diop Kaolack, reflecting the geographical roots of this surname.

Throughout history, several other notable figures have borne the Diop surname, including Boubacar Boris Diop, a contemporary Senegalese writer and journalist, and Aminata Diop, a Senegalese mathematician and educator who made significant contributions to the field of mathematics education in Africa.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Diop surname: questions and answers

How common is the Diop surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 113 in 2016. That gives Diop a modern rank of #28,691.

What does the Diop surname mean?

A Fulani surname of unknown meaning, likely originating from the Fula language spoken across West Africa.

What does the Diop map show?

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