NameCensus.

UK surname

Duah

A Ghanaian surname derived from the Akan word "adua" meaning "refuge" or "defender".

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Duah is 312 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

312

2016, ranked #14,350

Peak year

2016

312 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 312 in 2016, ranked #14,350.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 7 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Duah surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Duah surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Duah 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 7 #33,053
1997 modern 105 #26,188
1998 modern 127 #23,940
1999 modern 135 #23,279
2000 modern 139 #22,855
2001 modern 134 #23,037
2002 modern 147 #22,197
2003 modern 165 #20,401
2004 modern 192 #18,678
2005 modern 207 #17,731
2006 modern 235 #16,439
2007 modern 250 #15,901
2008 modern 248 #16,163
2009 modern 251 #16,368
2010 modern 276 #15,637
2011 modern 266 #15,937
2012 modern 254 #16,328
2013 modern 281 #15,487
2014 modern 299 #14,880
2015 modern 308 #14,463
2016 modern 312 #14,350

Geography

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Where Duahs 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 Southwark, Barnet, Brent, Greenwich and Lewisham. 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 Southwark 016 Southwark
2 Barnet 029 Barnet
3 Brent 009 Brent
4 Greenwich 002 Greenwich
5 Lewisham 023 Lewisham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Duah

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

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

Duah 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

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

Meaning and origin of Duah

The surname DUAH is of Ghanaian origin, believed to have originated from the Akan people of West Africa. The name can be traced back to the 16th century and is thought to be derived from the Twi word "duah," which means "tree."

In many West African cultures, names often carry significant meanings or reflect events, characteristics, or values. The name DUAH may have been associated with individuals who lived near or had a connection with a particular tree or forest area. Alternatively, it could have been given to someone who possessed qualities reminiscent of a strong, sturdy tree.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name DUAH can be found in the journal of a Portuguese explorer, João de Barros, who documented his travels through the region in the late 16th century. He mentioned encountering a village leader named Kwesi DUAH during his expedition.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, as the transatlantic slave trade intensified, many Africans bearing the surname DUAH were forcibly transported to the Americas, particularly to the Caribbean and North America. Historical records from this period, such as plantation records and slave manifests, often listed individuals with the surname DUAH.

Notable individuals with the surname DUAH include:

1. Nana Akwasi DUAH (c. 1720-1790), a renowned chief and military leader of the Ashanti people in present-day Ghana, who led numerous battles against British colonial forces.

2. Kwame DUAH (1892-1976), a Ghanaian educator and writer who played a significant role in promoting indigenous Ghanaian literature and cultural preservation.

3. Efua DUAH (1898-1984), a pioneering Ghanaian playwright, novelist, and poet, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in West African literature.

4. Kofi DUAH (1914-1992), a Ghanaian diplomat and politician who served as the Foreign Minister of Ghana from 1965 to 1966.

5. Akosua DUAH (1932-2018), a renowned Ghanaian sculptor and artist, known for her intricate wood carvings and ceramic works that depicted traditional Ghanaian themes and symbolism.

While the surname DUAH has its roots in Ghana, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. The name continues to be prevalent among people of Ghanaian descent, serving as a link to their cultural heritage and ancestral origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Duah surname: questions and answers

How common is the Duah surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 312 in 2016. That gives Duah a modern rank of #14,350.

What does the Duah surname mean?

A Ghanaian surname derived from the Akan word "adua" meaning "refuge" or "defender".

What does the Duah map show?

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