NameCensus.

UK surname

Owolabi

A Yoruba surname meaning "wealth has arrived" or "brings wealth."

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Owolabi is 491 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

491

2016, ranked #10,116

Peak year

2016

491 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 491 in 2016, ranked #10,116.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Owolabi surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Owolabi surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Owolabi 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 154 #20,780
1998 modern 179 #19,372
1999 modern 171 #20,072
2000 modern 175 #19,764
2001 modern 171 #19,770
2002 modern 222 #17,147
2003 modern 254 #15,454
2004 modern 308 #13,655
2005 modern 354 #12,270
2006 modern 382 #11,626
2007 modern 417 #11,001
2008 modern 420 #11,033
2009 modern 422 #11,221
2010 modern 477 #10,410
2011 modern 452 #10,748
2012 modern 450 #10,654
2013 modern 476 #10,385
2014 modern 482 #10,371
2015 modern 490 #10,149
2016 modern 491 #10,116

Geography

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Where Owolabis 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, Manchester and Lewisham. 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 018 Southwark
2 Southwark 023 Southwark
3 Southwark 007 Southwark
4 Manchester 017 Manchester
5 Lewisham 039 Lewisham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Owolabi

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Owolabi

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

Owolabi 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

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

Meaning and origin of Owolabi

The surname "OWOLABI" is of Nigerian origin, deriving from the Yoruba language. It is a compound name formed from the words "owo" meaning "wealth" or "prosperity," and "ola" meaning "honor" or "dignity." The suffix "-bi" is a common ending in Yoruba names, indicating a quality or characteristic. Thus, the name OWOLABI can be interpreted as "one who brings or possesses honorable wealth or prosperity."

The Yoruba people are an ethnic group predominantly found in southwestern Nigeria, with some populations also present in neighboring countries like Benin and Togo. The name OWOLABI is believed to have emerged within the Yoruba cultural sphere during the medieval period, possibly as early as the 13th or 14th century.

Historically, the name OWOLABI can be traced back to the ancient Oyo Empire, a powerful Yoruba kingdom that flourished between the 16th and 19th centuries. It is likely that the name was borne by individuals of noble or distinguished lineage within the empire, as the meaning suggests a person of honorable wealth and standing.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name OWOLABI can be found in the oral traditions and historical accounts passed down through generations of Yoruba storytellers and griots. These narratives often featured individuals bearing the name, highlighting their achievements and contributions to the community.

Notable figures throughout history who carried the surname OWOLABI include:

1. Owolabi Adegboyega (1893-1972), a prominent Nigerian educator and one of the founding members of the Egbe Omo Oduduwa, a cultural organization dedicated to promoting Yoruba heritage.

2. Owolabi Akinwande (1912-1988), a renowned Nigerian playwright and author, best known for his influential work "Ìgbàkejì," which explored themes of cultural identity and tradition.

3. Owolabi Olunloyo (1920-2003), a distinguished Nigerian lawyer and human rights activist who played a significant role in the country's struggle for independence and the development of its legal system.

4. Owolabi Amosun (1937-2011), a celebrated Nigerian artist and sculptor, whose works showcased the rich cultural heritage and traditions of the Yoruba people.

5. Owolabi Ogundeji (1949-present), a prominent Nigerian businessman and philanthropist, recognized for his contributions to economic development and social welfare initiatives in his home country.

While the surname OWOLABI has its roots in the Yoruba culture, it has since spread to other parts of Nigeria and beyond, as people migrated and settled in different regions. The name continues to be a source of pride and cultural identity for those who bear it, serving as a reminder of the rich heritage and values associated with honorable wealth and dignity.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Owolabi surname: questions and answers

How common is the Owolabi surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 491 in 2016. That gives Owolabi a modern rank of #10,116.

What does the Owolabi surname mean?

A Yoruba surname meaning "wealth has arrived" or "brings wealth."

What does the Owolabi map show?

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