NameCensus.

UK surname

Okello

African surname derived from a word meaning "born during famine" or "powerful weapon."

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Okello is 173 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

167

2016, ranked #22,055

Peak year

2010

173 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 167 in 2016, ranked #22,055.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Okello surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Okello surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Okello 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 81 #29,436
1998 modern 90 #28,920
1999 modern 95 #28,465
2000 modern 97 #28,142
2001 modern 93 #28,382
2002 modern 122 #24,874
2003 modern 118 #25,146
2004 modern 127 #24,224
2005 modern 138 #22,999
2006 modern 152 #21,721
2007 modern 153 #21,912
2008 modern 157 #21,766
2009 modern 162 #21,791
2010 modern 173 #21,327
2011 modern 158 #22,473
2012 modern 156 #22,645
2013 modern 169 #21,826
2014 modern 166 #22,277
2015 modern 168 #21,971
2016 modern 167 #22,055

Geography

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Where Okellos 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 Westminster, Newham, Wandsworth and Camden. 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 Westminster 004 Westminster
2 Newham 009 Newham
3 Wandsworth 009 Wandsworth
4 Westminster 006 Westminster
5 Camden 023 Camden

Forenames

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First names often paired with Okello

These lists show first names that appear often with the Okello 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 Okello

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

Okello 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

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

Meaning and origin of Okello

The surname OKELLO originates from the Luo people of Kenya and Uganda. It is believed to have derived from the Luo word "okelo," which means "born during the harvest season." The name likely emerged in the 16th or 17th century, when the Luo migrated from present-day South Sudan to their current settlements around Lake Victoria.

One of the earliest known references to the name OKELLO can be found in oral traditions and folklore passed down among the Luo communities. These stories often featured characters with names like OKELLO, reflecting the cultural significance of naming practices linked to birth circumstances or seasonal events.

In the 19th century, during the era of European exploration and colonization, some written records began to document the OKELLO surname. British colonial administrators and missionaries who encountered Luo communities in East Africa would have recorded names like OKELLO in their reports and documents.

A notable early bearer of the OKELLO surname was Obwara OKELLO, a prominent Luo chief who lived in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He played a crucial role in mediating disputes and fostering alliances among various Luo clans and neighboring communities.

Another historical figure with the OKELLO surname was Lawi OKELLO (1914-1996), a Ugandan politician and military officer who served as the President of Uganda from 1985 to 1986. He was a key figure in the country's turbulent post-independence history.

In Kenya, one of the most famous individuals with the OKELLO surname was Francis OKELLO-OKELLO (1942-1992), a renowned environmental activist and founder of the Green Belt Movement. He dedicated his life to promoting sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation in the region.

The OKELLO surname has also been associated with several prominent academics and writers. For example, John Baptist OKELLO (1933-2010) was a Ugandan literary critic and scholar who made significant contributions to the study of African literature and cultural studies.

Over time, variations of the OKELLO surname have emerged, such as OKELO, OKELA, and OKEYO, reflecting regional dialects and linguistic adaptations among different Luo communities in East Africa.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Okello surname: questions and answers

How common is the Okello surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 167 in 2016. That gives Okello a modern rank of #22,055.

What does the Okello surname mean?

African surname derived from a word meaning "born during famine" or "powerful weapon."

What does the Okello map show?

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