NameCensus.

UK surname

Nunoo

A surname possibly indicating a person of Ghanaian origin or with roots in the Akan people.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nunoo is 123 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

119

2016, ranked #27,704

Peak year

2010

123 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 119 in 2016, ranked #27,704.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Nunoo surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Nunoo surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Nunoo 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 55 #32,114
1998 modern 56 #32,313
1999 modern 57 #32,367
2000 modern 55 #32,609
2001 modern 59 #32,080
2002 modern 61 #32,286
2003 modern 80 #30,425
2004 modern 94 #28,896
2005 modern 95 #28,817
2006 modern 90 #29,893
2007 modern 98 #29,019
2008 modern 104 #28,341
2009 modern 122 #26,220
2010 modern 123 #26,728
2011 modern 116 #27,477
2012 modern 112 #28,174
2013 modern 112 #28,675
2014 modern 116 #28,253
2015 modern 116 #28,151
2016 modern 119 #27,704

Geography

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Where Nunoos 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 Eastbourne, Merton, Croydon and Greenwich. 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 Eastbourne 009 Eastbourne
2 Merton 019 Merton
3 Croydon 005 Croydon
4 Merton 018 Merton
5 Greenwich 030 Greenwich

Forenames

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First names often paired with Nunoo

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Nunoo

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

Nunoo 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

Nunoo 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 Nunoo is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

7
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Black - African

This describes the area pattern most associated with Nunoo, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Nunoo

The surname NUNOO is believed to have originated from the Akan people of West Africa, specifically from the country of Ghana. The name can be traced back to the 15th century, during the time of the Ashanti Empire.

The name NUNOO is derived from the Akan word "nuo," which means "to weave." It is thought that the name was initially given to individuals who worked as weavers or were involved in the textile industry. The double "oo" at the end of the name is a common feature in Akan surnames, adding emphasis to the pronunciation.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name NUNOO can be found in the writings of Portuguese explorer João de Barros, who documented his travels in West Africa in the early 16th century. He mentioned encountering individuals with the surname NUNOO in the region around the Akan kingdom of Akwamu.

In the 17th century, the name NUNOO appeared in records related to the Dutch West India Company's trade activities in the Gold Coast region (present-day Ghana). These records mention NUNOO traders and merchants who were involved in the lucrative gold and ivory trade.

Notable historical figures with the surname NUNOO include:

1. Okomfo Nunoo (c. 1700 - 1770), a renowned Akan spiritual leader and healer from the Akwamu region. 2. Kwadwo Nunoo (1820 - 1895), a respected chief and diplomat from the Ashanti kingdom who played a crucial role in negotiating treaties with the British colonial authorities. 3. Efua Nunoo (1860 - 1932), a celebrated Akan storyteller and oral historian who preserved and passed down many traditional folktales and proverbs. 4. Ama Nunoo (1895 - 1975), a pioneering Ghanaian educator and women's rights activist who established several schools and advocated for female empowerment. 5. Kwame Nunoo (1920 - 2008), a renowned Ghanaian artist and sculptor whose works celebrated the rich cultural heritage of the Akan people.

The surname NUNOO has also been associated with various place names in Ghana, such as the town of Nunoo-Nsunka in the Ashanti Region, which likely derived its name from the presence of NUNOO families in the area.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Nunoo surname: questions and answers

How common is the Nunoo surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 119 in 2016. That gives Nunoo a modern rank of #27,704.

What does the Nunoo surname mean?

A surname possibly indicating a person of Ghanaian origin or with roots in the Akan people.

What does the Nunoo map show?

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