NameCensus.

UK surname

Odeyemi

A surname of Yoruba origin meaning "one who accompanies royalty, a royal attendant."

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Odeyemi is 170 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

147

2016, ranked #24,071

Peak year

2010

170 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 147 in 2016, ranked #24,071.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Odeyemi surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Odeyemi surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Odeyemi 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 93 #27,932
1998 modern 81 #29,849
1999 modern 99 #27,906
2000 modern 92 #28,832
2001 modern 82 #29,714
2002 modern 93 #28,920
2003 modern 97 #28,217
2004 modern 115 #25,740
2005 modern 129 #23,963
2006 modern 133 #23,711
2007 modern 139 #23,377
2008 modern 148 #22,627
2009 modern 158 #22,168
2010 modern 170 #21,560
2011 modern 168 #21,563
2012 modern 140 #24,376
2013 modern 142 #24,547
2014 modern 156 #23,231
2015 modern 148 #23,934
2016 modern 147 #24,071

Geography

Back to top

Where Odeyemis 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 Ealing, Thurrock, Barnet, Newham and Waltham Forest. 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 Ealing 039 Ealing
2 Thurrock 015 Thurrock
3 Barnet 009 Barnet
4 Newham 037 Newham
5 Waltham Forest 028 Waltham Forest

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Odeyemi

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Odeyemi

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

Odeyemi 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

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

Meaning and origin of Odeyemi

The surname Odeyemi has its origins in the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. It is believed to have emerged during the 16th century in the region around the city of Ibadan. The name is thought to be derived from the Yoruba words "Ode" meaning "hunter" and "Yemi" meaning "my path" or "my way".

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Odeyemi name can be found in the historical records of the Oyo Empire, a prominent Yoruba kingdom that flourished between the 16th and 19th centuries. These records mention an Odeyemi family that held prominent positions within the kingdom's military and governing councils.

In the 18th century, a notable figure named Adeyemi Odeyemi was a respected military leader and advisor to the Alaafin (king) of Oyo. He played a crucial role in the expansion of the Oyo Empire's territories and the successful defense against rival kingdoms.

Another notable individual with the Odeyemi surname was Falolu Odeyemi, who lived in the late 19th century. He was a renowned traditional healer and herbalist, and his knowledge of medicinal plants and remedies was widely sought after throughout the region.

During the colonial era, the Odeyemi name appeared in various administrative records kept by the British authorities in Nigeria. One such record from the early 20th century mentions an Akinwande Odeyemi, who served as a local chief and intermediary between the colonial government and the Yoruba communities.

In more recent history, Olusola Odeyemi (1930-2010) was a prominent Nigerian academic and author. He wrote extensively on Yoruba culture, history, and folklore, and served as a professor at the University of Ibadan for many years.

Across various historical periods, the Odeyemi name has been associated with individuals who have made significant contributions to their communities, whether in leadership roles, traditional practices, or academic pursuits. While the name's roots can be traced back to the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria, its legacy has extended far beyond its place of origin.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Odeyemi surname: questions and answers

How common is the Odeyemi surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 147 in 2016. That gives Odeyemi a modern rank of #24,071.

What does the Odeyemi surname mean?

A surname of Yoruba origin meaning "one who accompanies royalty, a royal attendant."

What does the Odeyemi map show?

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