NameCensus.

UK surname

Lawal

A surname of Yoruba origin meaning "wealth has returned."

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lawal is 1,671 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

1,571

2016, ranked #3,946

Peak year

2010

1,671 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,571 in 2016, ranked #3,946.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 8 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Lawal surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lawal surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lawal 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 8 #32,887
1997 modern 523 #9,003
1998 modern 578 #8,588
1999 modern 619 #8,272
2000 modern 677 #7,689
2001 modern 676 #7,563
2002 modern 824 #6,616
2003 modern 908 #6,043
2004 modern 1,045 #5,416
2005 modern 1,192 #4,786
2006 modern 1,327 #4,379
2007 modern 1,482 #4,048
2008 modern 1,524 #3,955
2009 modern 1,594 #3,893
2010 modern 1,671 #3,817
2011 modern 1,566 #3,989
2012 modern 1,494 #4,106
2013 modern 1,522 #4,107
2014 modern 1,568 #4,004
2015 modern 1,535 #4,044
2016 modern 1,571 #3,946

Geography

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Where Lawals 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 Greenwich 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 Greenwich 002 Greenwich
2 Southwark 018 Southwark
3 Southwark 019 Southwark
4 Southwark 009 Southwark
5 Greenwich 001 Greenwich

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lawal

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lawal

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

Lawal 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

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

Meaning and origin of Lawal

The surname LAWAL originated in West Africa, particularly among the Yoruba people of present-day Nigeria. It is believed to have derived from the Yoruba word "awa," meaning "a parcel" or "a load." The name likely referred to someone who was a porter or carried loads for a living.

LAWAL can be traced back to the 15th century, during the height of the Oyo Empire in what is now southwestern Nigeria. The name appears in some historical records and oral traditions from that era, although its precise origins remain uncertain.

One of the earliest known references to the name LAWAL is found in the Benin Histories, a collection of oral accounts and records from the Benin Empire, which flourished in the present-day Edo State of Nigeria from the 15th to the 19th century.

In the 16th century, a notable figure named Lawal Ogundeyi was a prominent leader and warrior in the service of the Oyo Empire. He played a pivotal role in several military campaigns and is remembered for his bravery and strategic prowess.

Another historical figure bearing the name LAWAL was Lawal Jagunmolu, a renowned trader and merchant who lived in the late 17th century. He was instrumental in establishing trade routes between the Oyo Empire and neighboring regions, contributing to the economic prosperity of the empire.

In the 19th century, Lawal Idikan was a highly respected Islamic scholar and teacher from the city of Ilorin, known for his extensive knowledge of the Quran and Islamic jurisprudence.

Another notable individual with the surname LAWAL was Lawal Akintola, a prominent politician and lawyer who played a significant role in the Nigerian independence movement in the mid-20th century. Born in 1910, he served as the Premier of Western Nigeria from 1960 to 1962.

Throughout its history, the surname LAWAL has been associated with various professions and walks of life, including warriors, traders, scholars, and political leaders, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of those who bear this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Lawal surname: questions and answers

How common is the Lawal surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,571 in 2016. That gives Lawal a modern rank of #3,946.

What does the Lawal surname mean?

A surname of Yoruba origin meaning "wealth has returned."

What does the Lawal map show?

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