NameCensus.

UK surname

Nortey

A surname derived from a place name or geographic feature, possibly related to the word "north".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Warwick, Barnet and Lambeth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nortey is 194 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

194

2016, ranked #19,976

Peak year

2016

194 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 194 in 2016, ranked #19,976.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 15 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Nortey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Nortey surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Nortey 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
1851 historical 2 #33,133
1861 historical 15 #31,942
1891 historical 6 #33,800
1911 historical 1 #34,332
1997 modern 92 #28,079
1998 modern 89 #29,026
1999 modern 91 #28,937
2000 modern 90 #29,068
2001 modern 89 #28,932
2002 modern 121 #24,984
2003 modern 134 #23,260
2004 modern 144 #22,379
2005 modern 145 #22,253
2006 modern 160 #21,066
2007 modern 173 #20,243
2008 modern 178 #20,094
2009 modern 183 #20,135
2010 modern 193 #19,880
2011 modern 184 #20,363
2012 modern 174 #21,065
2013 modern 185 #20,575
2014 modern 184 #20,809
2015 modern 188 #20,417
2016 modern 194 #19,976

Geography

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Where Norteys 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 Warwick, Barnet and Lambeth. 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 Warwick 010 Warwick
2 Barnet 039 Barnet
3 Lambeth 024 Lambeth
4 Lambeth 026 Lambeth
5 Lambeth 010 Lambeth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Nortey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Nortey

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Nortey 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

Nortey 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

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

Meaning and origin of Nortey

The surname Nortey is of Ghanaian origin, with its roots traced back to the Ga people, an ethnic group found in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. The name is believed to have emerged during the 16th century.

The name Nortey is derived from the Ga word "nortey," which means "one who is truthful" or "one who speaks the truth." This name was likely given to individuals who were known for their honesty and integrity within their communities.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname Nortey can be found in the records of the Dutch East India Company, which had established trading posts along the coast of Ghana in the 17th century. These records often listed the names of local rulers, traders, and other prominent individuals.

In the 18th century, the surname Nortey appears in some historical documents related to the Ga people, including accounts of their cultural practices and interactions with European traders and missionaries.

One notable individual bearing the surname Nortey was Nii Nortey Amugi I, a prominent Ga chief who lived in the 18th century. He was known for his leadership and diplomacy in dealing with the British and other European powers that had established a presence in the region.

Another historical figure with the surname Nortey was Nii Nortey Amugi II, who ruled as the Ga Mantse (King) in the late 19th century. He played a significant role in the negotiations and conflicts between the Ga people and the British colonial authorities.

In the 20th century, the surname Nortey gained more prominence as individuals with this name achieved distinction in various fields. One such individual was Dr. Samuel Nortey, a renowned Ghanaian physician and academic who made significant contributions to medical education and public health in Ghana.

Another notable figure was Justice Nortey Dowuona, a Ghanaian legal scholar and jurist who served as a judge on the Supreme Court of Ghana in the late 20th century.

The surname Nortey has also been associated with various place names in Ghana, particularly in the Greater Accra Region, where many Ga communities are located. For example, there is a town called Nortey Town, which is believed to have been named after a prominent family or individual bearing the Nortey surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Nortey surname: questions and answers

How common is the Nortey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 194 in 2016. That gives Nortey a modern rank of #19,976.

What does the Nortey surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name or geographic feature, possibly related to the word "north".

What does the Nortey map show?

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