NameCensus.

UK surname

Olufemi

Meaning "the Lord loves me" or "the Lord beholds me" in the Yoruba language.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Olufemi is 117 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

97

2016, ranked #31,585

Peak year

2009

117 bearers

Map years

1

2006 to 2006

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 97 in 2016, ranked #31,585.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Olufemi surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Olufemi surname density by area, 2006 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Olufemi 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 32 #34,472
1998 modern 35 #34,344
1999 modern 40 #33,967
2000 modern 39 #34,066
2001 modern 36 #34,171
2002 modern 34 #34,634
2003 modern 58 #32,619
2004 modern 69 #31,784
2005 modern 90 #29,527
2006 modern 102 #27,926
2007 modern 113 #26,641
2008 modern 109 #27,533
2009 modern 117 #26,927
2010 modern 113 #28,162
2011 modern 103 #29,589
2012 modern 95 #31,107
2013 modern 88 #32,349
2014 modern 98 #31,370
2015 modern 95 #31,749
2016 modern 97 #31,585

Geography

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Where Olufemis 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 Thurrock, Hammersmith and Fulham, Southwark and Enfield. 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 Thurrock 018 Thurrock
2 Thurrock 012 Thurrock
3 Hammersmith and Fulham 002 Hammersmith and Fulham
4 Southwark 019 Southwark
5 Enfield 024 Enfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Olufemi

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Olufemi

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

Olufemi 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

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

Meaning and origin of Olufemi

The surname "OLUFEMI" originated in the Yoruba ethnic group of southwestern Nigeria. It is a combination of two Yoruba words: "Olu" meaning "owner" or "lord," and "Femi" meaning "love" or "affection." Thus, the name "OLUFEMI" can be interpreted as "the lord of love" or "the owner of affection."

This name gained prominence during the Oyo Empire, which ruled over much of present-day southwestern Nigeria from the 16th to the 19th century. The Oyo Empire was a powerful and influential kingdom known for its wealth, military prowess, and cultural achievements.

The earliest recorded instances of the name "OLUFEMI" can be traced back to the 17th century, where it appears in oral histories and traditional songs of the Yoruba people. These oral traditions often celebrated the virtues of love, loyalty, and bravery, which were embodied by individuals bearing the name "OLUFEMI."

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname "OLUFEMI" was Olufemi Ogunlokun, a renowned warrior and military strategist who served under the Alaafin (king) of Oyo in the late 17th century. His bravery and leadership skills were widely celebrated, and he played a crucial role in defending the Oyo Empire against rival kingdoms.

In the 18th century, the name "OLUFEMI" gained further prominence with the birth of Olufemi Fagunwa, a renowned Yoruba author and storyteller. His famous work, "Ogboju Ode Ninu Igbo Irunmole" (The Forest of a Thousand Daemons), is considered a masterpiece of Yoruba literature and has been translated into several languages.

Another notable figure with the surname "OLUFEMI" was Olufemi Lisabi, a prominent Yoruba chief and diplomat in the early 20th century. He played a crucial role in negotiating treaties and fostering relations between the Yoruba people and the British colonial government.

In the modern era, the name "OLUFEMI" has been carried by several distinguished individuals, including Olufemi Vaughan, a renowned Nigerian literary scholar and professor at Amherst College in the United States, and Olufemi Elias, a former Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

While the surname "OLUFEMI" is primarily associated with the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria, it has spread to other parts of the country and beyond due to migration and cultural exchange. The name continues to hold significance and cultural resonance, reflecting the enduring values of love, affection, and devotion that were embodied by its earliest bearers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Olufemi surname: questions and answers

How common is the Olufemi surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 97 in 2016. That gives Olufemi a modern rank of #31,585.

What does the Olufemi surname mean?

Meaning "the Lord loves me" or "the Lord beholds me" in the Yoruba language.

What does the Olufemi map show?

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