NameCensus.

UK surname

Fofanah

A surname originating from West Africa, possibly relating to a family or ethnic group.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fofanah is 163 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

163

2016, ranked #22,407

Peak year

2016

163 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 163 in 2016, ranked #22,407.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Fofanah surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fofanah surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fofanah 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 51 #32,545
1998 modern 51 #32,816
1999 modern 55 #32,561
2000 modern 54 #32,710
2001 modern 58 #32,180
2002 modern 67 #31,723
2003 modern 70 #31,486
2004 modern 85 #30,132
2005 modern 94 #28,973
2006 modern 98 #28,621
2007 modern 112 #26,800
2008 modern 119 #26,067
2009 modern 133 #24,817
2010 modern 147 #23,809
2011 modern 138 #24,615
2012 modern 130 #25,559
2013 modern 140 #24,779
2014 modern 149 #23,969
2015 modern 158 #22,913
2016 modern 163 #22,407

Geography

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Where Fofanahs 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 Lewisham 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 Lewisham 006 Lewisham
2 Southwark 021 Southwark
3 Southwark 019 Southwark
4 Southwark 009 Southwark
5 Southwark 015 Southwark

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fofanah

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fofanah

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Fofanah surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Fofanah 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 includes many younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Fofanah 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

Fofanah 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

Fofanah 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 Fofanah is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Other Ethnic Group

This describes the area pattern most associated with Fofanah, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Fofanah

The surname Fofanah has its origins in West Africa, specifically in the region of present-day Guinea. It is believed to have emerged as early as the 13th century, with records indicating that it was associated with various ethnic groups in the region, such as the Susu and Mandinka peoples.

The name Fofanah is thought to be derived from an ancient Mandinka word, possibly related to a specific clan or lineage. Some scholars suggest it may have been a descriptive name, referring to an individual's physical characteristics or occupation. However, the exact meaning and etymology have been lost over time.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, as the trans-Atlantic slave trade intensified, many individuals bearing the name Fofanah were forcibly transported from their homeland to various parts of the Americas, including the Caribbean islands and the United States. This diaspora led to the dispersal of the name across different continents.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Fofanah can be found in the records of the British colony of Sierra Leone, where several individuals with this surname were noted in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Notable figures from this period include Fode Fofanah, a merchant and community leader in Freetown, Sierra Leone, who lived from 1765 to 1832.

In the 19th century, the name Fofanah appeared in various historical records and documents related to the African diaspora in the Americas. One prominent individual was Mamadu Fofanah, a former enslaved person from Guinea who became a successful businessman and landowner in Louisiana after gaining his freedom in the 1850s.

As the 20th century dawned, the name Fofanah continued to be associated with individuals of West African descent, both in their ancestral homelands and in diaspora communities around the world. Notable figures include Fodeba Fofanah, a Guinean diplomat and politician who served as the country's ambassador to several nations in the 1960s and 1970s.

In more recent times, the name Fofanah has been carried by individuals from various professions and backgrounds, including writers, artists, and academics. One such example is Amadu Fofanah, a Sierra Leonean author and educator who has written extensively on topics related to African history and culture.

Overall, the surname Fofanah has a rich and diverse history, spanning several centuries and continents. Its origins can be traced back to the ancient ethnic groups of West Africa, and it has been borne by numerous individuals who have made significant contributions to their communities and societies.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Fofanah surname: questions and answers

How common is the Fofanah surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 163 in 2016. That gives Fofanah a modern rank of #22,407.

What does the Fofanah surname mean?

A surname originating from West Africa, possibly relating to a family or ethnic group.

What does the Fofanah map show?

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