NameCensus.

UK surname

Duodu

An occupational surname originating from Ghana referring to a hunter or warrior clan.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Riding of Yorkshire, Lewisham and Wandsworth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Duodu is 121 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

110

2016, ranked #29,225

Peak year

2014

121 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 110 in 2016, ranked #29,225.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Duodu surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Duodu surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Duodu 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 28 #34,904
1998 modern 38 #34,066
1999 modern 36 #34,323
2000 modern 37 #34,217
2001 modern 38 #34,004
2002 modern 53 #33,021
2003 modern 63 #32,152
2004 modern 68 #31,880
2005 modern 73 #31,616
2006 modern 87 #30,292
2007 modern 90 #30,228
2008 modern 88 #30,857
2009 modern 95 #30,393
2010 modern 103 #29,780
2011 modern 106 #29,157
2012 modern 114 #27,868
2013 modern 120 #27,406
2014 modern 121 #27,503
2015 modern 115 #28,319
2016 modern 110 #29,225

Geography

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Where Duodus 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 East Riding of Yorkshire, Lewisham, Wandsworth, Milton Keynes 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 East Riding of Yorkshire 039 East Riding of Yorkshire
2 Lewisham 021 Lewisham
3 Wandsworth 002 Wandsworth
4 Milton Keynes 012 Milton Keynes
5 Southwark 022 Southwark

Forenames

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First names often paired with Duodu

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Duodu

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

Duodu 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

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

Meaning and origin of Duodu

The surname DUODU originates from Ghana, specifically from the Akan people of West Africa. The name is believed to have derived from the Akan words "duo" meaning "tree" and "du" meaning "life" or "living." Thus, DUODU can be interpreted as "tree of life" or "living tree."

The earliest recorded instances of the name DUODU can be traced back to the 17th century when the Akan people inhabited the present-day regions of Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Togo. During this time, the name was often spelled in various ways, such as Duoduo, Duoadu, or Duadu, reflecting the phonetic variations in the Akan language.

In the 18th century, the name DUODU appeared in several historical records, including the journals of European explorers and traders who visited the Gold Coast region (now Ghana). One notable example is the account of Dutch merchant, Willem Bosman, who mentioned interactions with individuals bearing the surname DUODU in his book "A New and Accurate Description of the Coast of Guinea" published in 1705.

Notable individuals with the surname DUODU throughout history include:

1. Nana Kwaku Duodu (1892-1976), a prominent Ghanaian politician and traditional leader who served as the Omanhene (Paramount Chief) of Akuapem traditional area.

2. Joseph Ephraim Casely-Hayford (1866-1930), a Ghanaian writer, educator, and political activist, whose mother's maiden name was DUODU.

3. Kobina Sekyi (1892-1956), a renowned Ghanaian lawyer, writer, and judge, whose paternal grandmother's maiden name was DUODU.

4. Ebenezer Ako-Adjei (1916-2002), a Ghanaian political figure and diplomat who held various ministerial positions, and whose mother's maiden name was DUODU.

5. Theodora Salome Okoh (1922-2019), a Ghanaian playwright, novelist, and educator, whose maternal grandmother's maiden name was DUODU.

The surname DUODU has also been associated with several place names in Ghana, particularly in the Eastern and Greater Accra regions, where the Akan people have historically resided. For instance, the town of Duodu in the Akuapem North Municipal District is believed to have derived its name from the DUODU surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Duodu surname: questions and answers

How common is the Duodu surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 110 in 2016. That gives Duodu a modern rank of #29,225.

What does the Duodu surname mean?

An occupational surname originating from Ghana referring to a hunter or warrior clan.

What does the Duodu map show?

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