NameCensus.

UK surname

Oluwole

A Yoruba surname meaning "God's wealth."

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Oluwole is 213 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

194

2016, ranked #19,976

Peak year

2010

213 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 194 in 2016, ranked #19,976.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Oluwole surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Oluwole surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Oluwole 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
1911 historical 1 #34,332
1997 modern 86 #28,876
1998 modern 92 #28,680
1999 modern 98 #28,050
2000 modern 102 #27,425
2001 modern 106 #26,468
2002 modern 127 #24,267
2003 modern 137 #22,939
2004 modern 139 #22,891
2005 modern 160 #20,899
2006 modern 167 #20,447
2007 modern 183 #19,553
2008 modern 198 #18,753
2009 modern 197 #19,218
2010 modern 213 #18,660
2011 modern 210 #18,677
2012 modern 180 #20,606
2013 modern 189 #20,273
2014 modern 204 #19,439
2015 modern 194 #19,994
2016 modern 194 #19,976

Geography

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Where Oluwoles 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, Southwark, Newham and Barking and Dagenham. 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 015 Thurrock
2 Southwark 015 Southwark
3 Newham 034 Newham
4 Southwark 019 Southwark
5 Barking and Dagenham 014 Barking and Dagenham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Oluwole

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Oluwole

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

Oluwole 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

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

Meaning and origin of Oluwole

The surname OLUWOLE originated in the Yoruba ethnic group of southwestern Nigeria. It is a combination of two Yoruba words: "Olu" meaning "owner" or "lord", and "wole" meaning "wealth" or "riches". Thus, OLUWOLE translates to "owner of wealth" or "lord of riches".

The earliest known records of the OLUWOLE surname date back to the 16th century in the Kingdom of Oyo, one of the most powerful Yoruba states in pre-colonial Nigeria. The name was borne by prominent families and individuals who held influential positions in the Oyo society.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the OLUWOLE surname was Abiodun OLUWOLE, a respected warrior and advisor to the Alaafin (king) of Oyo in the late 16th century. He played a crucial role in defending the kingdom against external threats and expanding its territories.

In the 18th century, the OLUWOLE name gained further prominence with the rise of Bashorun Gaha OLUWOLE, a powerful military leader and statesman in the Oyo Empire. He served as the Bashorun (prime minister) under the reign of Alaafin Abiodun and played a pivotal role in the empire's governance and military campaigns.

Another notable figure was Lamuye OLUWOLE, a renowned trader and merchant in the 19th century. He established successful trade routes across West Africa, contributing to the economic prosperity of the Oyo region.

During the colonial era, the OLUWOLE surname continued to be associated with influential families and individuals. One such person was Chief Samuel Ladipo OLUWOLE, a prominent businessman and philanthropist in the early 20th century. He founded several schools and supported educational initiatives in Oyo.

In more recent times, the OLUWOLE name has been carried by academics, professionals, and public figures. Dr. Adekunle OLUWOLE, born in 1932, was a respected scholar and historian who made significant contributions to the study of Yoruba culture and history.

The OLUWOLE surname has also been found in various place names within the Yoruba-speaking regions of Nigeria, such as Oluwole Village in Oyo State and Oluwole Quarters in Ibadan, further attesting to its deep-rooted historical significance in the area.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Oluwole surname: questions and answers

How common is the Oluwole surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 194 in 2016. That gives Oluwole a modern rank of #19,976.

What does the Oluwole surname mean?

A Yoruba surname meaning "God's wealth."

What does the Oluwole map show?

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