NameCensus.

UK surname

Okoli

A surname originating from the Igbo people of Nigeria, meaning "from that town" or "from that land."

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Okoli is 231 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

230

2016, ranked #17,812

Peak year

2015

231 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 230 in 2016, ranked #17,812.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Okoli surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Okoli surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Okoli 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 74 #30,218
1998 modern 85 #29,439
1999 modern 82 #29,933
2000 modern 106 #26,848
2001 modern 105 #26,620
2002 modern 109 #26,552
2003 modern 124 #24,378
2004 modern 141 #22,689
2005 modern 174 #19,783
2006 modern 178 #19,666
2007 modern 178 #19,887
2008 modern 196 #18,895
2009 modern 209 #18,493
2010 modern 222 #18,148
2011 modern 205 #18,965
2012 modern 215 #18,304
2013 modern 225 #18,027
2014 modern 225 #18,142
2015 modern 231 #17,733
2016 modern 230 #17,812

Geography

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Where Okolis 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, Hammersmith and Fulham, Newham, Luton and Enfield. 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 Hammersmith and Fulham 013 Hammersmith and Fulham
3 Newham 024 Newham
4 Luton 020 Luton
5 Enfield 007 Enfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Okoli

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Okoli

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

Okoli 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

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

Meaning and origin of Okoli

The surname Okoli originates from Nigeria, particularly the Igbo tribe in the south-eastern region. The name can be traced back to the 15th century or earlier. It is believed to have derived from the Igbo word "ọkọlị," which means "the source" or "the origin." This suggests that the name may have been given to families or individuals who lived near significant water sources or rivers.

Okoli is a widely recognized surname among the Igbo people, and it has been documented in various historical records and manuscripts. One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the "Ifo Okwara," a collection of Igbo oral traditions and folklore, which dates back to the 16th century.

Some notable individuals with the surname Okoli throughout history include:

1. Chief Michael Okoli (1885-1962), a prominent Igbo leader and influential figure in the Nigerian independence movement. 2. Professor Chukwuma Okoli (1932-2018), a renowned Nigerian scholar and academic who specialized in African literature and culture. 3. Dr. Florence Okoli (1901-1988), one of the first female medical doctors in Nigeria and a pioneering advocate for women's health and education. 4. Reverend Samuel Okoli (1880-1957), a Christian missionary who played a significant role in spreading Christianity among the Igbo people in the early 20th century. 5. Chief Obinna Okoli (1920-2008), a respected traditional ruler and custodian of Igbo cultural heritage.

It is worth noting that the surname Okoli has also been associated with various place names and older spellings of place names in the Igbo heartland. For example, the town of Okoloma and the village of Okolobiri are believed to have derived their names from the Okoli surname.

The Okoli name has a rich history deeply rooted in the Igbo culture and traditions. Its enduring presence and significance within the Igbo community have made it a recognizable and respected surname across Nigeria and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Okoli surname: questions and answers

How common is the Okoli surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 230 in 2016. That gives Okoli a modern rank of #17,812.

What does the Okoli surname mean?

A surname originating from the Igbo people of Nigeria, meaning "from that town" or "from that land."

What does the Okoli map show?

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