NameCensus.

UK surname

Mpofu

A surname originating from Ndebele language meaning the soles of the feet.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mpofu is 566 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

566

2016, ranked #9,075

Peak year

2016

566 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 566 in 2016, ranked #9,075.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Mpofu surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mpofu surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mpofu 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 29 #34,795
1998 modern 39 #33,967
1999 modern 40 #33,967
2000 modern 75 #30,668
2001 modern 71 #30,907
2002 modern 153 #21,609
2003 modern 214 #17,343
2004 modern 279 #14,578
2005 modern 317 #13,323
2006 modern 375 #11,796
2007 modern 401 #11,353
2008 modern 433 #10,776
2009 modern 476 #10,227
2010 modern 538 #9,523
2011 modern 513 #9,765
2012 modern 514 #9,677
2013 modern 530 #9,609
2014 modern 560 #9,258
2015 modern 557 #9,206
2016 modern 566 #9,075

Geography

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Where Mpofus 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 Coventry, Leeds, Barking and Dagenham, Swindon and Manchester. 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 Coventry 009 Coventry
2 Leeds 064 Leeds
3 Barking and Dagenham 009 Barking and Dagenham
4 Swindon 015 Swindon
5 Manchester 009 Manchester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mpofu

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mpofu

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

Mpofu 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

Mpofu falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mpofu 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 Mpofu, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mpofu

The surname MPOFU originates from the Ndebele people of Zimbabwe. It is a Bantu language name that can be traced back to the late 18th century when the Ndebele nation was formed under the leadership of King Mzilikazi.

MPOFU is believed to be derived from the Ndebele word "impofure," which means "the one who survives" or "the one who endures." This name was likely given to individuals or families who displayed resilience and fortitude in the face of adversity or challenging circumstances.

The earliest known record of the MPOFU name appears in oral histories and traditions passed down through generations within the Ndebele community. It is closely tied to the migration and settlement patterns of the Ndebele people as they established their kingdom in present-day Zimbabwe.

One of the earliest documented instances of the MPOFU name can be found in the writings of European explorers and missionaries who encountered the Ndebele people in the 19th century. These records provide valuable insights into the cultural and social structures of the Ndebele nation at that time.

Notable individuals with the MPOFU surname include:

1. Thenjiwe Mpofu (1924-2010), a prominent Zimbabwean politician and activist who played a significant role in the country's struggle for independence. 2. Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo (1917-1999), a Zimbabwean revolutionary and politician who served as the Vice President of Zimbabwe from 1987 until his death. 3. Obert Mpofu (born 1951), a Zimbabwean politician and member of the ZANU-PF party, who has held various ministerial positions in the government. 4. Thandazani Mpofu (born 1981), a Zimbabwean cricketer who has represented the national team in both Test and One Day International matches. 5. Sibongile Mpofu (born 1989), a Zimbabwean visual artist and sculptor known for her work exploring themes of identity, gender, and cultural narratives.

While the MPOFU name has its roots in the Ndebele culture, it has since spread beyond Zimbabwe and can be found among individuals of various backgrounds and nationalities, reflecting the diaspora and migration patterns of people over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Mpofu surname: questions and answers

How common is the Mpofu surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 566 in 2016. That gives Mpofu a modern rank of #9,075.

What does the Mpofu surname mean?

A surname originating from Ndebele language meaning the soles of the feet.

What does the Mpofu map show?

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