NameCensus.

UK surname

Okereke

A surname of Nigerian origin meaning "ruler" or "leader" in the Igbo language.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Okereke is 154 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

154

2016, ranked #23,293

Peak year

2016

154 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 154 in 2016, ranked #23,293.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Okereke surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Okereke surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Okereke 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 57 #31,917
1998 modern 53 #32,633
1999 modern 52 #32,848
2000 modern 64 #31,735
2001 modern 60 #31,985
2002 modern 76 #30,830
2003 modern 79 #30,549
2004 modern 86 #30,019
2005 modern 99 #28,177
2006 modern 97 #28,793
2007 modern 108 #27,391
2008 modern 111 #27,225
2009 modern 116 #27,062
2010 modern 135 #25,127
2011 modern 125 #26,220
2012 modern 134 #25,059
2013 modern 144 #24,323
2014 modern 149 #23,969
2015 modern 152 #23,507
2016 modern 154 #23,293

Geography

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Where Okerekes 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 Leicester, Barnet, Haringey 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 Leicester 004 Leicester
2 Barnet 038 Barnet
3 Leicester 020 Leicester
4 Haringey 007 Haringey
5 Barking and Dagenham 021 Barking and Dagenham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Okereke

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Okereke

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

Okereke 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

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

Meaning and origin of Okereke

The surname Okereke originated in the Igbo-speaking region of present-day Nigeria. The earliest known recorded instances of the name date back to the 17th century. Okereke is derived from the Igbo words "oke" meaning "hill" or "upland" and "reke" meaning "witness" or "testify." The name suggests that the original bearer may have lived on a hill or elevated area and served as a witness or testified to events in their community.

The Okereke surname is also closely tied to the town of Orlu in Imo State, Nigeria, where many families bearing this name have their ancestral roots. Oral traditions suggest that the Okereke lineage can be traced back to a prominent individual named Okereke who lived in the 16th or 17th century and was a respected leader in the Orlu area.

One of the earliest documented references to the Okereke name appears in the writings of British explorer and linguist George Trevour Willmore, who published an account of his travels in the region in the late 19th century. He mentions encountering several Okereke families during his explorations.

Notable individuals throughout history with the surname Okereke include:

1. Chinua Okereke (1930-1999), a renowned Nigerian writer and playwright whose works explored themes of cultural identity and postcolonial experiences.

2. Nkechi Okereke (1892-1976), a pioneering Nigerian educator who founded one of the first secondary schools for girls in the country.

3. Chukwuemeka Okereke (1905-1983), a prominent Nigerian businessman and philanthropist who established several successful enterprises and contributed to various educational and charitable causes.

4. Adaobi Okereke (1922-2008), a Nigerian activist and advocate for women's rights who played a significant role in the Nigerian independence movement.

5. Chioma Okereke (born 1978), a contemporary Nigerian artist and sculptor whose work has been exhibited internationally and explores themes of identity, memory, and cultural heritage.

The Okereke name has also been associated with several notable places and landmarks in Nigeria, such as the Okereke Hill in Orlu, which is believed to be the ancestral home of many Okereke families and holds cultural significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Okereke surname: questions and answers

How common is the Okereke surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 154 in 2016. That gives Okereke a modern rank of #23,293.

What does the Okereke surname mean?

A surname of Nigerian origin meaning "ruler" or "leader" in the Igbo language.

What does the Okereke map show?

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