NameCensus.

UK surname

Odea

Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Deághaidh," meaning "descendant of Deághaidh," a personal name of uncertain origin.

In the 1881 census there were 75 people recorded with the Odea surname, ranking it #22,893 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 851, ranked #6,573, up from #22,893 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Manchester and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Warrington, Altonhill North and Onthank and Grangemouth - Newlands.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Odea is 902 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1034.7%.

1881 census count

75

Ranked #22,893

Modern count

851

2016, ranked #6,573

Peak year

2002

902 bearers

Map years

4

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Odea had 75 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,893 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 851 in 2016, ranked #6,573.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 189 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Odea surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Odea surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Odea 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 16 #30,441
1861 historical 22 #31,140
1881 historical 75 #22,893
1891 historical 38 #31,330
1901 historical 189 #15,684
1911 historical 32 #29,838
1997 modern 849 #6,247
1998 modern 891 #6,209
1999 modern 891 #6,251
2000 modern 896 #6,195
2001 modern 865 #6,253
2002 modern 902 #6,190
2003 modern 872 #6,223
2004 modern 851 #6,345
2005 modern 835 #6,383
2006 modern 829 #6,437
2007 modern 839 #6,442
2008 modern 818 #6,614
2009 modern 848 #6,576
2010 modern 874 #6,549
2011 modern 874 #6,472
2012 modern 849 #6,531
2013 modern 878 #6,478
2014 modern 878 #6,492
2015 modern 858 #6,548
2016 modern 851 #6,573

Geography

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Where Odeas are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Manchester, Liverpool, Bradford and Swansea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Warrington, Altonhill North and Onthank, Grangemouth - Newlands, Mull, Iona, Coll and Tiree and Kensington and Chelsea. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Liverpool Lancashire
4 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Swansea Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Warrington 020 Warrington
2 Altonhill North and Onthank East Ayrshire
3 Grangemouth - Newlands Falkirk
4 Mull, Iona, Coll and Tiree Argyll and Bute
5 Kensington and Chelsea 002 Kensington and Chelsea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Odea

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Odea

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Odea surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Odea 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Odea is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Odea 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

Odea falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Odea 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
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Odea

The surname ODEA is believed to have originated in Ireland, where it first emerged in the medieval era. It is thought to be an anglicized form of the Gaelic name O'Dea, which translates to "descendant of the son of God." This name was likely adopted by a devout Catholic family or one associated with the Church.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In 1317, a Brian O'Dea is mentioned as a member of the Dál gCais clan, which ruled over parts of what is now County Clare.

By the 16th century, the ODEA surname had spread throughout Munster, particularly in Counties Clare and Limerick. The name appears in the Fiants of the Tudor Conquest, a collection of administrative records from the 1500s, indicating the family's presence in the region during this turbulent time.

In the 17th century, a prominent figure named Donough O'Dea served as the Archbishop of Tuam from 1609 to 1612. He played a significant role in the Catholic Church's efforts to maintain its influence in Ireland during the Protestant Reformation.

Another notable individual was Dermot O'Dea, born in 1572, who was a Irish soldier and commander in the Nine Years' War against English rule. He fought alongside the legendary Red Hugh O'Donnell and is remembered for his bravery and military prowess.

The name ODEA can also be linked to several place names in Ireland, such as Dysert O'Dea in County Clare, which was likely named after an early clan member or landowner.

Other notable figures throughout history include John O'Dea (1793-1868), an Irish-American Catholic priest and educator who founded the first Catholic college in Oregon, and Michael O'Dea (1865-1952), an Irish-American businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the city of Seattle.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Odea families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Odea surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 28 Odeas recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.24x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 28 4.24x
Kent 8 4.22x
Surrey 6 2.21x
Lanarkshire 4 2.22x
Northamptonshire 3 5.74x
Renfrewshire 3 6.96x
Stirlingshire 3 14.63x
Glamorgan 1 1.03x
Hampshire 1 0.88x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Manchester in Lancashire leads with 19 Odeas recorded in 1881 and an index of 64.04x.

Place Total Index
Manchester 19 64.04x
Chatham 7 134.10x
Oldham 6 28.18x
Lambeth 5 10.31x
Govan 4 8.99x
Falkirk 3 62.50x
West Greenock 3 38.81x
Kingsthorpe 2 344.83x
Alverstoke 1 24.27x
Ardwick 1 16.81x
Blakesley 1 1250.00x
Milton In Gravesend 1 35.21x
Preston 1 5.67x
Southwark St Saviour 1 34.97x
Swansea Town 1 12.59x
Toxteth Park 1 4.48x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Odea surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Margaret 6
Mary 4
Julia 2
Ada 1
Ann 1
Bedelia 1
Bridget 1
Emily 1
Harriet 1
Jane 1
Maria 1
Sarah 1
Susanna 1
Sushanah 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Odea surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Odea households.

FAQ

Odea surname: questions and answers

How common was the Odea surname in 1881?

In 1881, 75 people were recorded with the Odea surname. That placed it at #22,893 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Odea surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 851 in 2016. That gives Odea a modern rank of #6,573.

What does the Odea surname mean?

Derived from the Gaelic "Ó Deághaidh," meaning "descendant of Deághaidh," a personal name of uncertain origin.

What does the Odea map show?

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