NameCensus.

UK surname

Kankam

A surname likely of Nigerian origin meaning "carrier" or "bearer".

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kankam is 105 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

104

2016, ranked #30,317

Peak year

2010

105 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 104 in 2016, ranked #30,317.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Kankam surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kankam surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kankam 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 2 #34,135
1997 modern 34 #34,282
1998 modern 37 #34,149
1999 modern 34 #34,528
2000 modern 37 #34,217
2001 modern 35 #34,261
2002 modern 50 #33,282
2003 modern 56 #32,797
2004 modern 69 #31,784
2005 modern 78 #31,058
2006 modern 81 #31,044
2007 modern 86 #30,808
2008 modern 87 #30,999
2009 modern 91 #30,944
2010 modern 105 #29,453
2011 modern 100 #30,058
2012 modern 91 #31,659
2013 modern 96 #31,381
2014 modern 93 #32,025
2015 modern 97 #31,499
2016 modern 104 #30,317

Geography

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Where Kankams 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 Hackney, Haringey, Barking and Dagenham, Brent and Croydon. 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 Hackney 028 Hackney
2 Haringey 013 Haringey
3 Barking and Dagenham 004 Barking and Dagenham
4 Brent 001 Brent
5 Croydon 030 Croydon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kankam

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kankam

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

Kankam 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

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

Meaning and origin of Kankam

The surname KANKAM originated in Ghana, West Africa, and can be traced back to the early 19th century. It is derived from the Twi language spoken by the Akan people, with "kan" meaning "born on" and "kam" referring to a particular day of the week. This suggests that KANKAM was initially a name given to children based on the day they were born.

KANKAM is predominantly found in the Ashanti Region of Ghana, particularly in the city of Kumasi and surrounding areas. The earliest known record of the name appears in a handwritten register of births from a village near Kumasi, dated around 1820.

One notable figure with this surname was Kwame Kankam (1892-1967), a prominent Ghanaian educator and advocate for traditional Akan culture. He served as the headmaster of several prestigious schools in Kumasi and authored several books on Akan customs and history.

Another individual of historical significance was Akua Kankam (1910-1998), a renowned Ghanaian potter and ceramic artist. Her work was celebrated for its intricate designs and vibrant colors, blending traditional Akan motifs with contemporary styles. Several of her pieces are displayed in museums across Ghana and abroad.

In the early 20th century, a man named Kofi Kankam (1901-1976) gained recognition for his role in the Ghanaian independence movement. He was a dedicated activist and organizer, rallying support for the cause and participating in numerous protests against British colonial rule.

Historically, the name KANKAM was also associated with certain villages and settlements in the Ashanti Region. For instance, the village of Kankam Nkwanta, located near the city of Obuasi, was known for its thriving community of farmers and traders bearing this surname.

Additionally, there are records of an Akan chief named Nana Kankam (1872-1941) who ruled over a small kingdom in the Ashanti Region during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was renowned for his diplomatic skills and efforts to maintain peace and stability in the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Kankam surname: questions and answers

How common is the Kankam surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 104 in 2016. That gives Kankam a modern rank of #30,317.

What does the Kankam surname mean?

A surname likely of Nigerian origin meaning "carrier" or "bearer".

What does the Kankam map show?

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