NameCensus.

UK surname

Kyei

A Ghanaian surname of Akan origin meaning "a precious gift".

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kyei is 228 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

227

2016, ranked #17,992

Peak year

2014

228 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 227 in 2016, ranked #17,992.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Kyei surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kyei surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Kyei 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 1 #34,435
1997 modern 63 #31,335
1998 modern 67 #31,282
1999 modern 69 #31,223
2000 modern 78 #30,361
2001 modern 74 #30,600
2002 modern 101 #27,766
2003 modern 106 #26,775
2004 modern 116 #25,580
2005 modern 136 #23,205
2006 modern 146 #22,320
2007 modern 161 #21,201
2008 modern 184 #19,666
2009 modern 196 #19,274
2010 modern 202 #19,322
2011 modern 190 #19,942
2012 modern 200 #19,207
2013 modern 226 #17,969
2014 modern 228 #17,977
2015 modern 220 #18,346
2016 modern 227 #17,992

Geography

Back to top

Where Kyeis 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 Croydon, Lewisham, Merton and Wandsworth. 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 Croydon 038 Croydon
2 Lewisham 002 Lewisham
3 Merton 018 Merton
4 Wandsworth 023 Wandsworth
5 Wandsworth 010 Wandsworth

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Kyei

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Kyei

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

Kyei 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

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

Meaning and origin of Kyei

The surname KYEI originates from the West African country of Ghana. It can be traced back to the Akan people, who are one of the largest ethnic groups in the region. The name is believed to have originated in the 16th century during the time of the great Ashanti Empire.

KYEI is derived from the Akan word "kyere," which means "to show" or "to guide." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to individuals who served as guides or leaders within their communities. It's also possible that the name was bestowed upon those who were skilled in teaching or imparting knowledge.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the writings of European travelers and missionaries who visited the region during the 17th and 18th centuries. These accounts often mentioned individuals with the surname KYEI, indicating its presence in various parts of what is now known as Ghana.

Historical records from the Ashanti Empire, such as royal chronicles and oral traditions, also mention individuals bearing the name KYEI. These references suggest that the name was not uncommon among the nobility and elite classes of the time.

Notable individuals who carried the surname KYEI include:

1. Nana Kyei I (c. 1650-1717), a prominent chief and military leader from the Ashanti region, known for his role in expanding the empire's territories.

2. Akosua Kyei (c. 1720-1795), a renowned healer and herbalist who was highly respected for her knowledge of traditional medicine.

3. Opoku Kyei (1802-1879), a respected elder and advisor to the Ashanti king during a period of intense conflict with British colonial forces.

4. Kwame Kyei (1865-1937), a prominent trader and merchant who established trade routes across West Africa and facilitated cultural exchange.

5. Nana Kyei II (1890-1962), a powerful chief and advocate for the preservation of Ashanti cultural traditions during the colonial era.

The name KYEI has also been associated with various place names in Ghana, such as Kyebi, a town in the Eastern Region, and Kyeraduren, a village in the Ashanti Region. These place names may have derived from individuals who bore the surname and played significant roles in the history and development of those areas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Kyei surname: questions and answers

How common is the Kyei surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 227 in 2016. That gives Kyei a modern rank of #17,992.

What does the Kyei surname mean?

A Ghanaian surname of Akan origin meaning "a precious gift".

What does the Kyei map show?

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