NameCensus.

UK surname

Okoye

A Nigerian surname signifying the male descendants of the Okoye patrilineage.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Okoye is 454 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

454

2016, ranked #10,732

Peak year

2016

454 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 454 in 2016, ranked #10,732.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Okoye surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Okoye surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Okoye 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 145 #21,571
1998 modern 152 #21,481
1999 modern 151 #21,740
2000 modern 184 #19,190
2001 modern 189 #18,590
2002 modern 205 #18,009
2003 modern 222 #16,942
2004 modern 253 #15,583
2005 modern 310 #13,518
2006 modern 317 #13,376
2007 modern 361 #12,303
2008 modern 385 #11,828
2009 modern 414 #11,407
2010 modern 434 #11,223
2011 modern 388 #12,121
2012 modern 417 #11,346
2013 modern 428 #11,304
2014 modern 453 #10,830
2015 modern 439 #11,035
2016 modern 454 #10,732

Geography

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Where Okoyes 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 Enfield, Barnet, Camden and Greenwich. 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 Enfield 031 Enfield
2 Barnet 028 Barnet
3 Barnet 019 Barnet
4 Camden 005 Camden
5 Greenwich 002 Greenwich

Forenames

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First names often paired with Okoye

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Okoye

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

Okoye 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

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

Meaning and origin of Okoye

The surname Okoye originated in Nigeria, specifically among the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria. The name likely emerged in the 15th or 16th century, derived from the Igbo word "oko" meaning farmer or planter, and "ye" meaning person or individual. Thus, Okoye can be interpreted as a person or individual engaged in farming or planting activities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Okoye dates back to the 17th century, found in historical records of Igbo communities in the region now known as Anambra State, Nigeria. During this period, the name was often spelled in various ways, such as Okoeye, Okoye, or Okwoye, reflecting the fluidity of written forms in that era.

In the 19th century, the name Okoye appeared in several notable texts and manuscripts documenting the history and culture of the Igbo people. For example, the works of renowned Igbo scholar and writer Olaudah Equiano, who was born in Essaka (now in Anambra State) in 1745, mentioned individuals with the surname Okoye.

Notable individuals with the surname Okoye throughout history include:

1. Nnamdi Okoye (c. 1890-1965), a prominent Igbo chief and leader from Ogidi, Anambra State, who played a significant role in the socio-political affairs of his community during the colonial era.

2. Chike Okoye (1924-2007), a Nigerian diplomat and politician who served as the governor of Anambra State from 1979 to 1983.

3. Emeka Okoye (born 1952), a Nigerian artist and sculptor known for his intricate wooden sculptures depicting Igbo cultural themes and traditions.

4. Chinua Okoye (1936-2008), a Nigerian writer and poet, celebrated for his works exploring themes of identity, culture, and the human condition.

5. Ifeoma Okoye (born 1972), a Nigerian-American actress and filmmaker, best known for her roles in films such as "Daughters of Chibok" and "Gina's Journey."

While the surname Okoye has its roots in the Igbo communities of southeastern Nigeria, it has since spread across the country and beyond, carried by individuals and families of Igbo descent who have migrated to other parts of Nigeria and the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Okoye surname: questions and answers

How common is the Okoye surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 454 in 2016. That gives Okoye a modern rank of #10,732.

What does the Okoye surname mean?

A Nigerian surname signifying the male descendants of the Okoye patrilineage.

What does the Okoye map show?

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