NameCensus.

UK surname

Olaoye

A Yoruba surname meaning "wealth has increased" or "wealth has returned".

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Olaoye is 137 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

129

2016, ranked #26,270

Peak year

2015

137 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 129 in 2016, ranked #26,270.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Olaoye surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Olaoye surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Olaoye 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 26 #35,135
1998 modern 30 #34,833
1999 modern 34 #34,528
2000 modern 40 #33,976
2001 modern 39 #33,923
2002 modern 58 #32,564
2003 modern 59 #32,530
2004 modern 66 #32,079
2005 modern 81 #30,740
2006 modern 83 #30,808
2007 modern 99 #28,852
2008 modern 104 #28,341
2009 modern 107 #28,483
2010 modern 118 #27,404
2011 modern 117 #27,334
2012 modern 133 #25,187
2013 modern 130 #26,074
2014 modern 136 #25,452
2015 modern 137 #25,226
2016 modern 129 #26,270

Geography

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Where Olaoyes 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 Stafford, Greenwich, Southwark and Cardiff. 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 Stafford 014 Stafford
2 Greenwich 011 Greenwich
3 Southwark 023 Southwark
4 Cardiff 010 Cardiff
5 Greenwich 004 Greenwich

Forenames

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First names often paired with Olaoye

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Olaoye

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

Olaoye 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

Olaoye 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 Olaoye is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

7
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Black - African

This describes the area pattern most associated with Olaoye, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Olaoye

The surname OLAOYE originates from the Yoruba ethnic group of southwestern Nigeria. It is believed to have emerged during the 15th century in the region known as Iyo, which is now part of Osun State.

OLAOYE is a combination of two Yoruba words: "Ola," meaning wealth or prosperity, and "Oye," which refers to a specific type of celebration or festival. Thus, the name can be interpreted as "the wealth or prosperity of the celebration."

Historical records indicate that the name OLAOYE was initially associated with a prominent family or lineage in the Iyo region, known for their contributions to the local economy and cultural traditions. It is possible that the name was initially bestowed upon an individual or family who gained recognition and prosperity through their involvement in organizing or sponsoring significant celebratory events.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name OLAOYE can be found in the oral histories and traditions of the Yoruba people, which were later transcribed and documented by colonial administrators and anthropologists in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Notable individuals who have carried the surname OLAOYE throughout history include:

1. Adebayo OLAOYE (c. 1820-1890), a renowned Yoruba merchant and trader who established trade routes across West Africa during the 19th century.

2. Tinubu OLAOYE (c. 1870-1945), a respected Yoruba chief and community leader who played a significant role in mediating disputes and resolving conflicts in the Iyo region during the colonial era.

3. Funmilayo OLAOYE (1900-1978), a pioneering Nigerian educator and women's rights activist who advocated for female empowerment and access to education in the early 20th century.

4. Adekunle OLAOYE (1925-2003), a distinguished Nigerian military officer who served in various capacities during and after the Nigerian Civil War, including as the Chief of Army Staff from 1978 to 1979.

5. Abimbola OLAOYE (born 1957), a renowned Yoruba scholar and professor of African studies, who has contributed extensively to the preservation and understanding of Yoruba culture, language, and traditions.

While the surname OLAOYE has its roots in the Yoruba culture of southwestern Nigeria, it has since spread to other parts of the country and beyond, carried by individuals and families who have migrated or established new communities.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Olaoye surname: questions and answers

How common is the Olaoye surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 129 in 2016. That gives Olaoye a modern rank of #26,270.

What does the Olaoye surname mean?

A Yoruba surname meaning "wealth has increased" or "wealth has returned".

What does the Olaoye map show?

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