NameCensus.

UK surname

Oppong

An African surname of Akan origin meaning "rich" or "wealthy".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Merton, Croydon and Reading.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Oppong is 610 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

606

2016, ranked #8,646

Peak year

2010

610 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 606 in 2016, ranked #8,646.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Oppong surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Oppong surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Oppong 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 156 #20,593
1998 modern 169 #20,104
1999 modern 202 #18,127
2000 modern 210 #17,670
2001 modern 211 #17,376
2002 modern 273 #14,892
2003 modern 301 #13,785
2004 modern 367 #12,028
2005 modern 407 #11,041
2006 modern 453 #10,194
2007 modern 477 #9,907
2008 modern 505 #9,565
2009 modern 568 #8,944
2010 modern 610 #8,677
2011 modern 568 #9,043
2012 modern 543 #9,264
2013 modern 567 #9,093
2014 modern 585 #8,966
2015 modern 587 #8,875
2016 modern 606 #8,646

Geography

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Where Oppongs 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 Merton, Croydon, Reading, Hackney and Southwark. 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 Merton 019 Merton
2 Croydon 005 Croydon
3 Reading 010 Reading
4 Hackney 016 Hackney
5 Southwark 012 Southwark

Forenames

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First names often paired with Oppong

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Oppong

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

Oppong 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

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

Meaning and origin of Oppong

The surname Oppong has its origins in Ghana, West Africa, and is believed to date back to the 16th century or earlier. It is an Akan name, and the Akan people are one of the largest ethnic groups in Ghana. The name Oppong is derived from the Akan word "opong," which means "messenger" or "messenger of a chief."

The Oppong surname is most commonly found in the Ashanti region of Ghana, which was the center of the powerful Ashanti Empire in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Ashanti were known for their highly organized military and political system, and it is possible that the name Oppong was associated with messengers or envoys who played an important role in the empire's communication and diplomacy.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Oppong name can be found in the "Fante Confederacy Records," a collection of documents related to the Fante people of Ghana from the 17th and 18th centuries. These records mention an Oppong who served as a messenger and intermediary between the Fante and the British traders on the Gold Coast (now Ghana's coast).

Another notable historical figure with the Oppong surname was Osei Tutu Oppong, a prominent chief and military leader in the Ashanti Empire in the late 18th century. He played a significant role in the expansion and consolidation of the empire during his reign.

In the 19th century, there are records of an Oppong family from the town of Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti Empire. This family was known for their involvement in traditional Ashanti crafts and arts, particularly in the production of the iconic Kente cloth.

One of the most famous Oppongs in modern times was Kofi Abrefa Oppong, a Ghanaian writer and scholar who lived from 1915 to 1987. He made significant contributions to the study of Akan culture, language, and literature, and was a prominent figure in the preservation of Ghanaian cultural heritage.

Another notable Oppong was Nana Kodwo Oppong, a Ghanaian businessman and philanthropist who lived from 1929 to 2016. He was the founder of the Oppong Group, a successful conglomerate with interests in various sectors, and was also known for his philanthropic efforts in education and healthcare.

In summary, the surname Oppong has a rich history rooted in the Akan culture of Ghana, with connections to the powerful Ashanti Empire and its traditional systems of communication and governance. It has been carried by notable figures in various fields throughout the centuries, including chiefs, military leaders, scholars, and entrepreneurs, reflecting the diversity and significance of this name within Ghanaian society.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Oppong surname: questions and answers

How common is the Oppong surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 606 in 2016. That gives Oppong a modern rank of #8,646.

What does the Oppong surname mean?

An African surname of Akan origin meaning "rich" or "wealthy".

What does the Oppong map show?

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