NameCensus.

UK surname

Odunsi

A Yoruba surname that can refer to someone from the town of Odun.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Odunsi is 160 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

131

2016, ranked #26,004

Peak year

2010

160 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 131 in 2016, ranked #26,004.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Odunsi surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Odunsi surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Odunsi 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 72 #30,415
1998 modern 83 #29,638
1999 modern 84 #29,700
2000 modern 92 #28,832
2001 modern 81 #29,828
2002 modern 89 #29,428
2003 modern 97 #28,217
2004 modern 99 #28,136
2005 modern 118 #25,301
2006 modern 125 #24,611
2007 modern 130 #24,389
2008 modern 142 #23,270
2009 modern 156 #22,351
2010 modern 160 #22,487
2011 modern 141 #24,294
2012 modern 134 #25,059
2013 modern 141 #24,670
2014 modern 134 #25,711
2015 modern 130 #26,093
2016 modern 131 #26,004

Geography

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Where Odunsis 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 Newham, Southwark, Lewisham, Hackney 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 Newham 037 Newham
2 Southwark 016 Southwark
3 Lewisham 002 Lewisham
4 Hackney 026 Hackney
5 Barking and Dagenham 022 Barking and Dagenham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Odunsi

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Odunsi

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

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Odunsi surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Odunsi 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 younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Odunsi 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

Odunsi 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

Odunsi 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 Odunsi is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Black - African

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

Meaning and origin of Odunsi

The surname "ODUNSI" is of Nigerian origin, specifically from the Yoruba tribe of southwestern Nigeria. The name is believed to have originated in the 16th or 17th century, during the height of the Oyo Empire, one of the most powerful and influential Yoruba kingdoms.

The name "ODUNSI" is derived from the Yoruba words "odun" and "si," which together mean "to honor time" or "to respect age." It is thought to have been a name given to individuals who were highly respected for their wisdom and experience, particularly those who held positions of authority or influence within their communities.

While there are no known historical references to the name "ODUNSI" in ancient manuscripts or records, it is believed to have been a relatively common surname among the Yoruba people during the pre-colonial era. The earliest recorded examples of the name can be found in some of the oral histories and traditions of the Yoruba people, which were passed down through generations.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname "ODUNSI" was Odunsi Olowu, a prominent Yoruba chief who lived in the late 17th century. He was renowned for his wisdom and leadership skills, and is said to have played a significant role in the governance of the Oyo Empire during his time.

Another notable figure bearing the name "ODUNSI" was Odunsi Ajayi, a Yoruba scholar and historian who lived in the 19th century. He is credited with documenting many of the oral histories and traditions of the Yoruba people, helping to preserve their rich cultural heritage for future generations.

In more recent times, the surname "ODUNSI" has been carried by several notable individuals, including Odunsi Olatunde (1925-2005), a Nigerian lawyer and politician who served as the Attorney General of the Western Region of Nigeria in the 1960s, and Odunsi Abiodun (1949-present), a Nigerian author and academic who has written extensively on Yoruba literature and culture.

Other individuals with the surname "ODUNSI" include Odunsi Adebayo (1932-2018), a Nigerian businessman and philanthropist who founded the Odunsi Foundation, which supports education and healthcare initiatives in Nigeria, and Odunsi Oluwole (1955-present), a Nigerian artist and sculptor whose works have been exhibited in galleries around the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Odunsi surname: questions and answers

How common is the Odunsi surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 131 in 2016. That gives Odunsi a modern rank of #26,004.

What does the Odunsi surname mean?

A Yoruba surname that can refer to someone from the town of Odun.

What does the Odunsi map show?

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