NameCensus.

UK surname

Oyedele

An Yoruba surname meaning "wealth obtained from a crown or ruler."

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bexley, Lambeth and Bradford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Oyedele is 158 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

158

2016, ranked #22,904

Peak year

2016

158 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 158 in 2016, ranked #22,904.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Oyedele surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Oyedele surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Oyedele 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 36 #34,071
1998 modern 34 #34,433
1999 modern 37 #34,248
2000 modern 37 #34,217
2001 modern 35 #34,261
2002 modern 54 #32,927
2003 modern 67 #31,796
2004 modern 76 #31,125
2005 modern 90 #29,527
2006 modern 100 #28,283
2007 modern 122 #25,353
2008 modern 135 #24,123
2009 modern 148 #23,141
2010 modern 149 #23,598
2011 modern 137 #24,716
2012 modern 149 #23,372
2013 modern 153 #23,314
2014 modern 155 #23,333
2015 modern 149 #23,817
2016 modern 158 #22,904

Geography

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Where Oyedeles 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 Bexley, Lambeth and Bradford. 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 Bexley 001 Bexley
2 Lambeth 010 Lambeth
3 Lambeth 024 Lambeth
4 Lambeth 009 Lambeth
5 Bradford 035 Bradford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Oyedele

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Oyedele

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

Oyedele 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

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

Meaning and origin of Oyedele

The surname Oyedele originated from the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. It is a combination of two words in the Yoruba language: "oye" meaning "to praise" and "dele" meaning "to arrive" or "to become". Thus, the name Oyedele can be interpreted as "one who has arrived to be praised".

This name dates back several centuries and was likely first used by the Yoruba people to denote someone who had achieved a significant accomplishment or status worthy of praise. The name may have been given as a mark of respect or as a way to commemorate a notable event or achievement.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Oyedele can be found in historical documents and records from the Yoruba kingdoms of the 16th and 17th centuries. These include chronicles and oral traditions passed down through generations, documenting important figures and events in Yoruba history.

One notable bearer of the name Oyedele was Oba Oyedele Ajayi, a ruler of the Oyo Empire in the late 17th century. He is remembered for his military conquests and expansion of the empire's territories. Another prominent figure was Oyedele Oguntola, a revered Yoruba scholar and philosopher from the 19th century, known for his contributions to the preservation of Yoruba cultural traditions.

In the early 20th century, Oyedele Akinola was a respected educator and advocate for women's rights in Nigeria. She played a pivotal role in establishing schools and promoting education for girls in the country.

Another notable Oyedele was Oyedele Adebayo, a Nigerian politician and diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the 1970s. He was instrumental in shaping Nigeria's foreign policy during a critical period in the country's history.

While the name Oyedele is primarily associated with the Yoruba people of Nigeria, it has also been adopted by other Nigerian ethnic groups over time. As people migrated and intermarried, the name spread to other parts of the country, carrying with it its rich cultural heritage and significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Oyedele surname: questions and answers

How common is the Oyedele surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 158 in 2016. That gives Oyedele a modern rank of #22,904.

What does the Oyedele surname mean?

An Yoruba surname meaning "wealth obtained from a crown or ruler."

What does the Oyedele map show?

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