NameCensus.

UK surname

Nkrumah

A Ghanaian surname originating from the Akan name Nkrumah, meaning "endowed with grace."

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nkrumah is 219 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

219

2016, ranked #18,422

Peak year

2016

219 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 219 in 2016, ranked #18,422.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Nkrumah surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Nkrumah surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Nkrumah 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 59 #31,734
1998 modern 65 #31,477
1999 modern 73 #30,856
2000 modern 68 #31,380
2001 modern 70 #31,016
2002 modern 92 #29,040
2003 modern 89 #29,380
2004 modern 123 #24,679
2005 modern 126 #24,287
2006 modern 156 #21,399
2007 modern 177 #19,965
2008 modern 184 #19,666
2009 modern 193 #19,463
2010 modern 210 #18,836
2011 modern 204 #19,040
2012 modern 197 #19,408
2013 modern 205 #19,218
2014 modern 207 #19,259
2015 modern 217 #18,542
2016 modern 219 #18,422

Geography

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Where Nkrumahs 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, Milton Keynes and Merton. 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 018 Southwark
2 Southwark 026 Southwark
3 Milton Keynes 014 Milton Keynes
4 Milton Keynes 018 Milton Keynes
5 Merton 018 Merton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Nkrumah

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Nkrumah

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

Nkrumah 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

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

Meaning and origin of Nkrumah

The surname Nkrumah originates from Ghana, a country located in West Africa. It is believed to have its roots in the Akan language, which is spoken by several ethnic groups in Ghana, including the Ashanti people. The name Nkrumah is derived from the Akan word "nkra," which means "earth" or "land," and "mah," which means "to give birth to" or "to originate from." Therefore, Nkrumah can be interpreted as "born of the earth" or "originating from the land."

Historical records indicate that the name Nkrumah has been in use since the 15th century when the Ashanti Kingdom was established. It was commonly associated with the ruling class and members of the royal family. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Nkrumah can be found in the oral traditions and folklores of the Ashanti people, where it is mentioned in connection with various chiefs and leaders.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Nkrumah is Kwame Nkrumah (1909-1972), who was the first Prime Minister and President of Ghana after the country gained independence from British rule in 1957. He played a crucial role in the decolonization of Africa and was a prominent advocate for Pan-Africanism. Nkrumah's vision and leadership significantly influenced the course of Ghana's history and inspired other African nations in their struggle for freedom.

Another notable figure with the name Nkrumah is Gamal Abdel Nasser (1918-1970), the second President of Egypt. Although not of Ghanaian descent, he adopted the surname Nkrumah as a tribute to Kwame Nkrumah and the Pan-African movement. This gesture highlighted the strong bond and solidarity between the two leaders in their fight against colonialism and their shared vision for a united Africa.

In the realm of literature, Ayi Kwei Armah (born 1939) is a renowned Ghanaian novelist and writer who has used his works to explore themes of African identity, colonialism, and post-colonial struggles. His surname, Armah, is sometimes spelled as Nkrumah in certain publications, reflecting the fluidity and variations in spelling that can occur with traditional African names.

Another notable figure bearing the Nkrumah surname is Samia Nkrumah (born 1974), the daughter of Kwame Nkrumah. She has been actively involved in Ghanaian politics and served as the Chairperson of the Convention People's Party, the party founded by her father.

The name Nkrumah has also been associated with various place names in Ghana, particularly in the Ashanti Region, where it is believed to have originated. For example, the town of Nkrumah is located in the Atwima Kwanwoma District of the Ashanti Region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Nkrumah surname: questions and answers

How common is the Nkrumah surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 219 in 2016. That gives Nkrumah a modern rank of #18,422.

What does the Nkrumah surname mean?

A Ghanaian surname originating from the Akan name Nkrumah, meaning "endowed with grace."

What does the Nkrumah map show?

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