NameCensus.

UK surname

Okafor

A surname of Igbo origin meaning "hand of wealth" or "the hand that brings wealth."

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Okafor is 634 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

634

2016, ranked #8,340

Peak year

2016

634 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 634 in 2016, ranked #8,340.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Okafor surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Okafor surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Okafor 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 185 #18,506
1998 modern 190 #18,687
1999 modern 212 #17,611
2000 modern 221 #17,089
2001 modern 226 #16,620
2002 modern 258 #15,485
2003 modern 312 #13,467
2004 modern 349 #12,473
2005 modern 394 #11,308
2006 modern 420 #10,816
2007 modern 462 #10,143
2008 modern 516 #9,416
2009 modern 539 #9,313
2010 modern 559 #9,245
2011 modern 568 #9,043
2012 modern 546 #9,221
2013 modern 582 #8,931
2014 modern 608 #8,709
2015 modern 611 #8,619
2016 modern 634 #8,340

Geography

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Where Okafors 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 Southwark, Thurrock, Haringey, Barnet and Greenwich. 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 Southwark 022 Southwark
2 Thurrock 019 Thurrock
3 Haringey 025 Haringey
4 Barnet 026 Barnet
5 Greenwich 002 Greenwich

Forenames

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First names often paired with Okafor

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Okafor

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

Okafor 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

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

Meaning and origin of Okafor

The surname Okafor has its origins in the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria. It is a patronymic name derived from the personal name "Okafor," which means "male child born on Afor market day" in the Igbo language.

The name can be traced back to the 16th century when the Igbo people had a system of naming their children based on the day of the week or market day they were born. Afor is one of the four market days in the traditional Igbo calendar, and Okafor refers to a male child born on that day.

In the early 19th century, the name Okafor appeared in written records and manuscripts documenting the history and culture of the Igbo people. One notable example is the work of Reverend John Christopher Taylor, a British missionary who wrote extensively about the Igbo language and customs.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Okafor was Nnamdi Okafor, a prominent Igbo trader and community leader in the late 18th century. He was known for his involvement in the slave trade and his influence in the region.

Another notable figure with the Okafor surname was Chinua Achebe (1930-2013), the renowned Nigerian novelist and author of the classic novel "Things Fall Apart." His works explored the effects of colonialism on the Igbo people and their culture.

In the 20th century, the Okafor surname gained greater recognition with individuals like Chike Okafor (1932-2019), a Nigerian businessman and philanthropist who founded the Chike Okafor Foundation to support education and healthcare initiatives in Nigeria.

Additionally, Okwui Okafor (born 1955) is a Nigerian diplomat and former UN Under-Secretary-General. She served as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) from 2007 to 2010.

One of the more contemporary figures with the Okafor surname is Ifeoma Okafor-Yarewood, a Nigerian-American lawyer and human rights activist. She has been recognized for her work in promoting women's rights and advocating for social justice.

While the surname Okafor originated from the Igbo people of Nigeria, it has since spread globally due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its roots and historical significance remain deeply intertwined with the culture and traditions of the Igbo people.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Okafor surname: questions and answers

How common is the Okafor surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 634 in 2016. That gives Okafor a modern rank of #8,340.

What does the Okafor surname mean?

A surname of Igbo origin meaning "hand of wealth" or "the hand that brings wealth."

What does the Okafor map show?

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