NameCensus.

UK surname

Esan

A surname derived from a place name in Nigeria.

In the 1881 census there were 3 people recorded with the Esan surname, ranking it #33,498 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 136, ranked #25,377, up from #33,498 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Westminster, Hackney and Broxbourne.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Esan is 140 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 4433.3%.

1881 census count

3

Ranked #33,498

Modern count

136

2016, ranked #25,377

Peak year

2014

140 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • Esan had 3 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,498 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 136 in 2016, ranked #25,377.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 83 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Esan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Esan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Esan 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
1851 historical 31 #27,734
1861 historical 44 #28,433
1881 historical 3 #33,498
1891 historical 68 #28,300
1901 historical 15 #32,383
1911 historical 83 #24,531
1997 modern 36 #34,071
1998 modern 46 #33,286
1999 modern 50 #33,041
2000 modern 51 #32,999
2001 modern 49 #33,048
2002 modern 63 #32,113
2003 modern 68 #31,689
2004 modern 86 #30,019
2005 modern 98 #28,325
2006 modern 107 #27,179
2007 modern 117 #26,066
2008 modern 109 #27,533
2009 modern 116 #27,062
2010 modern 116 #27,704
2011 modern 119 #27,063
2012 modern 125 #26,298
2013 modern 139 #24,912
2014 modern 140 #24,977
2015 modern 137 #25,226
2016 modern 136 #25,377

Geography

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Where Esans 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 Westminster, Hackney, Broxbourne and Havering. 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 Westminster 009 Westminster
2 Hackney 021 Hackney
3 Hackney 004 Hackney
4 Broxbourne 013 Broxbourne
5 Havering 011 Havering

Forenames

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First names often paired with Esan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Esan

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

Esan 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

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

Meaning and origin of Esan

The surname ESAN has its origins in the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria and is thought to have emerged sometime in the 16th or 17th century. The name itself is derived from the Yoruba word "eesan," which means "crown" or "royalty."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the ESAN name dates back to the late 17th century, where it appears in a historical document detailing the lineage of the Oba (king) of the Ijebu Kingdom, located in what is now Ogun State, Nigeria. The document mentions an Olu-Esan, which translates to "crowned one" or "royal one."

The ESAN surname is closely tied to the Ijebu Kingdom and the broader Yoruba culture. It was often associated with individuals of noble or royal descent, suggesting a connection to the ruling class or those with significant social standing.

Notable historical figures bearing the ESAN surname include Olori Esan (c. 1750-1820), a highly respected and influential queen mother of the Ijebu Kingdom, renowned for her wisdom and leadership during a turbulent period of the kingdom's history.

Another prominent individual was Awujale Esan (1840-1902), who served as the 15th Awujale (ruler) of the Ijebu Kingdom from 1881 to 1902. His reign was marked by efforts to maintain the kingdom's autonomy amidst growing British colonial influence in the region.

In the late 19th century, Reverend Samuel Esan (1860-1932) was a pioneering Christian missionary and educator who played a significant role in the spread of Christianity and Western education among the Ijebu and Yoruba people.

Moving into the 20th century, Adeyinka Esan (1920-2002) was a prominent Nigerian lawyer, academic, and human rights activist who advocated for democracy and social justice during the turbulent years of military rule in Nigeria.

More recently, Olawale Esan (b. 1958) is a renowned Nigerian artist and sculptor, known for his intricate and evocative works that explore themes of identity, culture, and spirituality within the Yoruba tradition.

While the ESAN surname has its roots in Nigeria, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities, carrying with it the rich cultural heritage and historical significance associated with the Yoruba people.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Esan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Esan surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 2 Esans recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.84x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 2 6.84x
Lancashire 1 2.88x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hackney London in Middlesex leads with 1 Esans recorded in 1881 and an index of 60.98x.

Place Total Index
Hackney London 1 60.98x
Liverpool 1 47.39x
St Botolph Aldersgate 1 3333.33x

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Esan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 1
Walter 1
William 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Esan households.

FAQ

Esan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Esan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3 people were recorded with the Esan surname. That placed it at #33,498 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Esan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 136 in 2016. That gives Esan a modern rank of #25,377.

What does the Esan surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name in Nigeria.

What does the Esan map show?

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