NameCensus.

UK surname

Koffi

An African surname likely derived from the Akan word for "born on Friday".

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Koffi is 121 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

121

2016, ranked #27,399

Peak year

2015

121 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 121 in 2016, ranked #27,399.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Koffi surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Koffi surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Koffi 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 3 #33,861
1997 modern 17 #36,181
1998 modern 16 #36,361
1999 modern 15 #36,476
2000 modern 20 #35,915
2001 modern 20 #35,754
2002 modern 35 #34,554
2003 modern 34 #34,681
2004 modern 44 #34,053
2005 modern 44 #34,255
2006 modern 62 #33,043
2007 modern 62 #33,346
2008 modern 70 #32,856
2009 modern 88 #31,352
2010 modern 107 #29,153
2011 modern 99 #30,218
2012 modern 103 #29,733
2013 modern 119 #27,541
2014 modern 120 #27,646
2015 modern 121 #27,405
2016 modern 121 #27,399

Geography

Back to top

Where Koffis 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, Greenwich, Islington and Kensington and Chelsea. 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 029 Southwark
2 Greenwich 002 Greenwich
3 Greenwich 007 Greenwich
4 Islington 005 Islington
5 Kensington and Chelsea 001 Kensington and Chelsea

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Koffi

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Koffi

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Koffi, 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 Koffi surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Koffi 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, Koffi 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

Koffi 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

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

Meaning and origin of Koffi

The surname KOFFI has its origins in the West African country of Ghana, dating back to the 16th century. The name is derived from the Akan language spoken by the Akans, one of the largest ethnic groups in Ghana. It is believed to have originated from the Akan word "kofi," which means "born on Friday." This suggests that the name was initially given to children born on that day of the week.

In the early days, KOFFI was predominantly found in the Ashanti region of Ghana, which was the center of the powerful Ashanti Empire. The name can be traced back to some of the earliest written records in the region, including the oral traditions and storytelling passed down through generations.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name KOFFI can be found in the writings of European explorers and traders who visited the region during the 16th and 17th centuries. These accounts often mentioned local chiefs and leaders with the name KOFFI, indicating its prevalence among the Akan people.

Over time, the name KOFFI spread beyond the Ashanti region and became more widely adopted across Ghana and neighboring countries. It has been associated with several notable figures throughout history, including Kofi Annan, the Ghanaian diplomat and former Secretary-General of the United Nations, who was born in 1938 and passed away in 2018. Another prominent individual was Kofi Abrefa Busia, a Ghanaian politician and scholar who served as the Prime Minister of Ghana from 1969 to 1972.

Other notable individuals with the surname KOFFI include Kofi Awoonor, a celebrated Ghanaian poet and author who lived from 1935 to 2013, and Kofi Atta Annan, a Ghanaian economist and father of Kofi Annan, who played a significant role in the country's independence movement.

While the name KOFFI is most prevalent in Ghana and West Africa, it has also spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its roots can be traced back to the Akan people of Ghana, where it originated as a name given to children born on Fridays, reflecting the cultural traditions and beliefs of the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Koffi surname: questions and answers

How common is the Koffi surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 121 in 2016. That gives Koffi a modern rank of #27,399.

What does the Koffi surname mean?

An African surname likely derived from the Akan word for "born on Friday".

What does the Koffi map show?

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