NameCensus.

UK surname

Okolie

A Nigerian surname derived from the Igbo language meaning "from the countryside".

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Okolie is 141 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

136

2016, ranked #25,377

Peak year

2015

141 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 136 in 2016, ranked #25,377.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Okolie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Okolie surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Okolie 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 45 #33,168
1998 modern 47 #33,197
1999 modern 50 #33,041
2000 modern 53 #32,805
2001 modern 57 #32,275
2002 modern 67 #31,723
2003 modern 76 #30,883
2004 modern 78 #30,919
2005 modern 82 #30,617
2006 modern 92 #29,576
2007 modern 101 #28,505
2008 modern 107 #27,844
2009 modern 116 #27,062
2010 modern 133 #25,379
2011 modern 137 #24,716
2012 modern 127 #25,992
2013 modern 139 #24,912
2014 modern 140 #24,977
2015 modern 141 #24,723
2016 modern 136 #25,377

Geography

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Where Okolies 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 Bexley, Greenwich, Barnet and Haringey. 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 Bexley 001 Bexley
2 Greenwich 005 Greenwich
3 Greenwich 006 Greenwich
4 Barnet 024 Barnet
5 Haringey 011 Haringey

Forenames

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First names often paired with Okolie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Okolie

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

Okolie 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

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

Meaning and origin of Okolie

The surname Okolie has its origins in Nigeria, specifically among the Igbo people of the country's southeastern region. The name is believed to have emerged during the late 16th or early 17th century, derived from the Igbo word "okola," which translates to "survivor" or "one who perseveres."

This linguistic connection suggests that the name may have been initially bestowed upon individuals or families who displayed remarkable resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity, such as surviving wars, famines, or other challenging circumstances. The name's roots can be traced back to various Igbo communities in the present-day states of Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, and Imo.

Historical records from the region, particularly those maintained by local chiefs and village elders, occasionally mention individuals bearing the Okolie surname. However, due to the oral tradition prevalent among the Igbo during that era, written accounts are relatively scarce.

One of the earliest documented references to the Okolie name can be found in a collection of oral histories compiled by British colonial administrators in the late 19th century. These accounts mention an Okolie family that played a prominent role in the establishment of a thriving trading settlement along the banks of the Niger River.

Throughout the centuries, the Okolie surname has been associated with several notable figures. Among them is Nnamdi Okolie (1904-1976), a prominent Nigerian lawyer and politician who served as a member of the Eastern Nigerian House of Assembly during the colonial era.

Another noteworthy individual bearing this surname is Chukwuemeka Okolie (1924-2008), a renowned Nigerian artist and sculptor whose works have been exhibited in galleries across Africa and Europe. His sculptures often depicted scenes from Igbo cultural traditions and mythology.

In the field of sports, the name Okolie has gained recognition through the achievements of Lawrence Okolie (born 1992), a British professional boxer of Nigerian descent. He currently holds the WBO cruiserweight world championship title.

Okolie is also the surname of Chika Okolie (born 1985), a Nigerian-American actress and writer known for her roles in various television series and films, including "The Haves and the Have Nots" and "Greenleaf."

Another prominent individual with the Okolie surname is Chioma Okolie (born 1980), a Nigerian lawyer and human rights advocate. She has been actively involved in initiatives aimed at promoting access to justice and gender equality in Nigeria.

While the Okolie surname has its roots in Nigeria, it has since spread across various parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins and historical significance remain deeply intertwined with the Igbo culture and the resilience of the people from whom it emerged.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Okolie surname: questions and answers

How common is the Okolie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 136 in 2016. That gives Okolie a modern rank of #25,377.

What does the Okolie surname mean?

A Nigerian surname derived from the Igbo language meaning "from the countryside".

What does the Okolie map show?

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