NameCensus.

UK surname

Ojo

A Spanish surname derived from "ojo" meaning "eye", possibly referring to a person with distinctive eyes.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Greenwich and Bexley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ojo is 1,132 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

1,102

2016, ranked #5,336

Peak year

2010

1,132 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,102 in 2016, ranked #5,336.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Ojo surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ojo surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ojo 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 399 #11,028
1998 modern 449 #10,428
1999 modern 495 #9,731
2000 modern 505 #9,561
2001 modern 493 #9,574
2002 modern 586 #8,581
2003 modern 666 #7,685
2004 modern 751 #7,012
2005 modern 838 #6,368
2006 modern 929 #5,889
2007 modern 1,000 #5,609
2008 modern 1,035 #5,491
2009 modern 1,064 #5,480
2010 modern 1,132 #5,303
2011 modern 1,071 #5,492
2012 modern 1,030 #5,599
2013 modern 1,079 #5,469
2014 modern 1,110 #5,355
2015 modern 1,082 #5,423
2016 modern 1,102 #5,336

Geography

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Where Ojos 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 Greenwich and Bexley. 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 Greenwich 002 Greenwich
2 Bexley 001 Bexley
3 Greenwich 001 Greenwich
4 Bexley 002 Bexley
5 Greenwich 003 Greenwich

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ojo

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ojo

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

Ojo 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

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

Meaning and origin of Ojo

The surname "Ojo" is of Spanish origin and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is believed to have originated from the Spanish word "ojo" meaning "eye". In medieval Spain, it was not uncommon for surnames to be derived from physical characteristics or occupations.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "Ojo" can be found in the Libro de Repartimiento de Sevilla, a historical document from 1253 that recorded the distribution of land and properties in the city of Seville after its conquest by the Christian monarchs. The document mentions an individual named Pedro Ojo, suggesting that the surname was already in use by that time.

During the 15th century, the surname "Ojo" appeared in various Spanish records and manuscripts, such as the Libro del Repartimiento de Córdoba (1492) and the Libro de Apeos y Repartimientos de Loja (1505). These documents indicate that families bearing the surname "Ojo" were present in different regions of Spain, including Andalusia and Granada.

One notable figure with the surname "Ojo" was Francisco Ojo de Salinas (1564-1641), a Spanish priest and writer who authored several religious works. Another was Juan Ojo de Dios (1600-1668), a Franciscan friar and theologian born in Seville, who wrote extensively on theological subjects.

In the 18th century, Domingo Ojo de Buen Tiempo (1720-1789) was a renowned Spanish navigator and explorer who participated in several expeditions to the Pacific Ocean and the Northwest Coast of America. He is celebrated for his contributions to the exploration and mapping of these regions.

Miguela Ojo de Saavedra (1785-1860) was a prominent figure in the Spanish War of Independence against the French occupation. She played a crucial role in the defense of her hometown, Málaga, and is remembered for her bravery and patriotism.

As the centuries progressed, the surname "Ojo" spread across various parts of the Spanish-speaking world, particularly in Latin America, where many descendants of Spanish settlers adopted the name. It remains a relatively common surname in countries like Mexico, Colombia, and Argentina.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Ojo surname: questions and answers

How common is the Ojo surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,102 in 2016. That gives Ojo a modern rank of #5,336.

What does the Ojo surname mean?

A Spanish surname derived from "ojo" meaning "eye", possibly referring to a person with distinctive eyes.

What does the Ojo map show?

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