NameCensus.

UK surname

Okolo

A surname derived from a word meaning "around" or "about" in some Slavic languages.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lewisham, Hackney and Islington.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Okolo is 186 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

184

2016, ranked #20,731

Peak year

2013

186 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 184 in 2016, ranked #20,731.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Okolo surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Okolo surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Okolo 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 53 #32,329
1998 modern 69 #31,076
1999 modern 74 #30,759
2000 modern 73 #30,881
2001 modern 73 #30,699
2002 modern 88 #29,534
2003 modern 74 #31,091
2004 modern 94 #28,896
2005 modern 116 #25,564
2006 modern 124 #24,750
2007 modern 143 #22,924
2008 modern 156 #21,862
2009 modern 171 #21,024
2010 modern 173 #21,327
2011 modern 172 #21,248
2012 modern 173 #21,135
2013 modern 186 #20,502
2014 modern 182 #20,958
2015 modern 178 #21,149
2016 modern 184 #20,731

Geography

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Where Okolos 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 Lewisham, Hackney, Islington and Barnet. 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 Lewisham 010 Lewisham
2 Hackney 010 Hackney
3 Islington 002 Islington
4 Lewisham 005 Lewisham
5 Barnet 008 Barnet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Okolo

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Okolo

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

Okolo 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

Okolo falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Okolo 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 Okolo, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Okolo

The surname OKOLO has its origins in Nigeria, West Africa, and can be traced back to the 18th century. It is believed to be derived from the Igbo word "okolo," which means "community" or "clan." This suggests that the name may have initially been used to identify individuals belonging to a particular community or clan within the Igbo ethnic group.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the OKOLO surname appears in a document from the late 18th century, which mentions an individual named Nwaka OKOLO, who was a respected elder in an Igbo village. This document provides insight into the use of the name during that time period and its association with the Igbo people.

In the 19th century, the OKOLO surname is found in various historical records, including missionary accounts and colonial documents. These records often mention individuals with the OKOLO surname who played significant roles in their communities, such as village leaders, traders, or intermediaries between the Igbo people and European settlers.

One notable individual with the OKOLO surname was Nnamdi OKOLO, who lived in the late 19th century and was known for his activism and advocacy for Igbo rights during the colonial era. He was a vocal critic of the British colonial administration and fought for the preservation of Igbo cultural traditions.

Another individual worth mentioning is Adaora OKOLO, a renowned Igbo artist and sculptor who lived in the early 20th century. Her intricate wood carvings and sculptures depicting Igbo cultural themes and motifs have been exhibited in museums around the world and are considered significant contributions to Nigerian art.

In the mid-20th century, Chukwuemeka OKOLO was a prominent Nigerian politician and diplomat. He served as a member of the Nigerian parliament and later as the country's ambassador to several nations, including the United States and the United Kingdom.

The OKOLO surname has also been associated with various place names in Nigeria, particularly in the Igbo-speaking regions. For instance, there is a town called Okolo-Enyim in Abia State, which may have derived its name from the surname.

It is important to note that while the surname OKOLO is primarily associated with the Igbo ethnic group in Nigeria, it may have been adopted by individuals from other ethnic groups or regions over time due to migration, intermarriage, or other cultural exchanges.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Okolo surname: questions and answers

How common is the Okolo surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 184 in 2016. That gives Okolo a modern rank of #20,731.

What does the Okolo surname mean?

A surname derived from a word meaning "around" or "about" in some Slavic languages.

What does the Okolo map show?

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