NameCensus.

UK surname

Oladejo

A Yoruba surname meaning "wealth becomes honour or celebration".

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Oladejo is 158 in 2012. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

142

2016, ranked #24,625

Peak year

2012

158 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 142 in 2016, ranked #24,625.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Oladejo surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Oladejo surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Oladejo 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 49 #32,776
1998 modern 46 #33,286
1999 modern 53 #32,746
2000 modern 48 #33,288
2001 modern 46 #33,311
2002 modern 53 #33,021
2003 modern 60 #32,446
2004 modern 70 #31,681
2005 modern 94 #28,973
2006 modern 111 #26,565
2007 modern 113 #26,641
2008 modern 111 #27,225
2009 modern 119 #26,637
2010 modern 127 #26,176
2011 modern 132 #25,303
2012 modern 158 #22,460
2013 modern 146 #24,107
2014 modern 147 #24,177
2015 modern 141 #24,723
2016 modern 142 #24,625

Geography

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Where Oladejos 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 Southwark, Walsall and Bexley. 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 Southwark 022 Southwark
2 Southwark 026 Southwark
3 Walsall 018 Walsall
4 Bexley 001 Bexley
5 Bexley 008 Bexley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Oladejo

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Oladejo

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

Oladejo 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

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

Meaning and origin of Oladejo

The surname Oladejo is of Yoruba origin, tracing its roots to the southwestern region of Nigeria. It arose during the pre-colonial era, believed to have emerged sometime between the 16th and 18th centuries.

Oladejo is a compound word derived from the Yoruba language, composed of the elements "Ola" meaning "wealth" or "fortune," and "dejo" meaning "to wake up" or "to become alert." The name can be interpreted to signify one who awakens to prosperity or becomes conscious of their good fortune.

Early written records mentioning individuals with the surname Oladejo are scarce due to the predominantly oral tradition of the Yoruba people. However, some historical accounts suggest that the name was present among the noble families and influential lineages within the Yoruba kingdoms and city-states.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Oladejo Akinkunmi, a prominent warrior and chief who lived in the late 17th century. He was known for his bravery and military prowess during the Yoruba internecine wars of that era.

Another notable figure was Oladejo Adigun, a skilled diplomat and negotiator who played a crucial role in resolving territorial disputes between the Oyo and Ibarapa regions in the early 19th century.

During the colonial period, the name Oladejo gained wider recognition. Oladejo Shyngle, born in 1842, was a respected Chief and advisor to the British colonial administration in Lagos. He played a significant role in facilitating the integration of the Yoruba people into the emerging colonial system.

In the realm of literature, Oladejo Okediji, born in 1915, was a renowned Yoruba playwright and novelist. His works, such as "Rere Run" and "Iwa Lesin," explored themes of tradition, cultural identity, and the challenges faced by the Yoruba people in a rapidly changing world.

Another prominent figure was Oladejo Bamidele, a Nigerian politician and advocate for human rights, who served as a member of the Nigerian Senate from 1999 to 2003.

While the surname Oladejo is primarily associated with the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria, it has also spread to other parts of the country and beyond, carried by individuals and families who have migrated or descended from Yoruba ancestry.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Oladejo surname: questions and answers

How common is the Oladejo surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 142 in 2016. That gives Oladejo a modern rank of #24,625.

What does the Oladejo surname mean?

A Yoruba surname meaning "wealth becomes honour or celebration".

What does the Oladejo map show?

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