NameCensus.

UK surname

Oyewole

A Yoruba surname meaning "The rich/important one has come."

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Oyewole is 284 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

284

2016, ranked #15,323

Peak year

2016

284 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 284 in 2016, ranked #15,323.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Oyewole surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Oyewole surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Oyewole 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 77 #29,874
1998 modern 99 #27,785
1999 modern 103 #27,305
2000 modern 118 #25,197
2001 modern 118 #24,832
2002 modern 142 #22,687
2003 modern 152 #21,486
2004 modern 169 #20,206
2005 modern 188 #18,866
2006 modern 213 #17,563
2007 modern 231 #16,835
2008 modern 232 #16,931
2009 modern 244 #16,706
2010 modern 273 #15,764
2011 modern 262 #16,098
2012 modern 275 #15,459
2013 modern 273 #15,802
2014 modern 271 #15,986
2015 modern 279 #15,527
2016 modern 284 #15,323

Geography

Back to top

Where Oyewoles 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, Lewisham and Bexley. 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 016 Southwark
3 Southwark 022 Southwark
4 Lewisham 003 Lewisham
5 Bexley 002 Bexley

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Oyewole

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Oyewole

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Oyewole surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Oyewole 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 includes many younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Oyewole 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

Oyewole 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

Oyewole 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 Oyewole is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Black - African

This describes the area pattern most associated with Oyewole, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Oyewole

The surname OYEWOLE originated from the Yoruba ethnic group in present-day southwestern Nigeria. It emerged during the 15th century, which coincides with the establishment of the Oyo Empire. The name is derived from the Yoruba words "oye," meaning "to bless," and "wole," meaning "to arrive." Therefore, OYEWOLE can be interpreted as "a blessed arrival."

The earliest known recorded instance of the surname OYEWOLE can be traced back to a 16th-century manuscript detailing the genealogy of the Oyo royal family. This document mentions an individual named Oyewole, who was a prominent figure in the Oyo Empire during that era.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname OYEWOLE. One such person was Oba Oyewole Atiba, who ruled the Oyo Empire from 1774 to 1796. He was known for his military prowess and for expanding the empire's territories.

Another prominent figure was Reverend Samuel Adetu Oyewole (1845-1912), who was one of the first Yoruba Christian missionaries. He played a significant role in translating the Bible into the Yoruba language and in spreading Christianity throughout southwestern Nigeria.

In the realm of literature, Oladele Oyewole (1932-2022) was a renowned Nigerian poet and playwright. He was celebrated for his contributions to the development of Yoruba literature and for his efforts in preserving the Yoruba cultural heritage.

Adekunle Oyewole (born 1939) is a notable American poet and activist. He is a founding member of the influential spoken word and music collective, The Last Poets, which played a pivotal role in the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s and 1970s.

Another individual of note is Olusola Oyewole (born 1963), a Nigerian-American artist and educator. Her work explores themes of identity, cultural exchange, and the African diaspora experience through various mediums, including painting, sculpture, and mixed media installations.

It is important to note that while the surname OYEWOLE originated within the Yoruba ethnic group in Nigeria, it has since been adopted by individuals from various cultural backgrounds and nationalities around the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Oyewole surname: questions and answers

How common is the Oyewole surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 284 in 2016. That gives Oyewole a modern rank of #15,323.

What does the Oyewole surname mean?

A Yoruba surname meaning "The rich/important one has come."

What does the Oyewole map show?

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