NameCensus.

UK surname

Nwafor

A surname of Nigerian origin meaning "children are wealth".

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nwafor is 122 in 2012. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

108

2016, ranked #29,578

Peak year

2012

122 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 108 in 2016, ranked #29,578.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Nwafor surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Nwafor surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Nwafor 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 27 #35,016
1998 modern 32 #34,633
1999 modern 44 #33,601
2000 modern 44 #33,602
2001 modern 46 #33,311
2002 modern 52 #33,110
2003 modern 56 #32,797
2004 modern 55 #33,154
2005 modern 73 #31,616
2006 modern 79 #31,263
2007 modern 88 #30,515
2008 modern 86 #31,114
2009 modern 108 #28,311
2010 modern 120 #27,124
2011 modern 111 #28,294
2012 modern 122 #26,696
2013 modern 115 #28,176
2014 modern 111 #29,113
2015 modern 109 #29,327
2016 modern 108 #29,578

Geography

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Where Nwafors 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 Liverpool, Lambeth, Southwark, Merton and Barking and Dagenham. 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 Liverpool 039 Liverpool
2 Lambeth 020 Lambeth
3 Southwark 013 Southwark
4 Merton 019 Merton
5 Barking and Dagenham 014 Barking and Dagenham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Nwafor

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Nwafor

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

Nwafor 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

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

Meaning and origin of Nwafor

The surname NWAFOR originated from the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria, West Africa. It is derived from the Igbo phrase "nwa for" which translates to "child born on the road." This name was given to children born during travels or migrations in the 18th and 19th centuries.

NWAFOR is an ancient Igbo surname that can be traced back to the 16th century. Some of the earliest records of the name are found in oral histories and folklore passed down through generations of Igbo families. It is believed that the name first appeared in written form in the records of European missionaries and traders who visited the region in the late 17th century.

One notable early reference to the NWAFOR name is found in the diaries of a Portuguese trader named João Baptista, who visited the Igbo hinterlands in the 1680s. He documented encountering a village elder named Nwafor Okoye, suggesting the surname's existence at that time.

The first recorded NWAFOR individual was likely Nwafor Achi, a prominent trader and farmer who lived in the late 18th century. He is mentioned in oral histories as a respected member of his community and a successful entrepreneur who traded goods throughout the region.

Another historical figure bearing the NWAFOR surname was Nwafor Ogbunike, a renowned herbalist and healer who lived in the mid-19th century. He was known for his vast knowledge of traditional Igbo medicine and his ability to treat various ailments.

In the early 20th century, Nwafor Orizu gained recognition as a talented sculptor and wood carver. His intricate works depicting Igbo cultural scenes and traditional motifs were highly regarded and can still be found in museums and private collections today.

Nwafor Nwoko, born in 1914, was a pioneering Igbo writer and educator. He authored several books on Igbo language and culture, preserving and promoting the rich heritage of his people. His works remain influential in the study of Igbo literature and history.

Lastly, Nwafor Okeke, born in 1933, was a respected Igbo leader and activist who played a significant role in the Nigerian Civil War. He advocated for the rights and autonomy of the Igbo people during a turbulent period in the country's history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Nwafor surname: questions and answers

How common is the Nwafor surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 108 in 2016. That gives Nwafor a modern rank of #29,578.

What does the Nwafor surname mean?

A surname of Nigerian origin meaning "children are wealth".

What does the Nwafor map show?

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