NameCensus.

UK surname

Sarfo

An occupational surname of Akan origins, referring to a goldsmith or jeweler.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sarfo is 220 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

220

2016, ranked #18,376

Peak year

2016

220 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 220 in 2016, ranked #18,376.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Sarfo surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sarfo surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sarfo 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 38 #33,872
1998 modern 42 #33,651
1999 modern 47 #33,320
2000 modern 61 #32,039
2001 modern 60 #31,985
2002 modern 82 #30,181
2003 modern 96 #28,381
2004 modern 115 #25,740
2005 modern 121 #24,947
2006 modern 142 #22,724
2007 modern 157 #21,546
2008 modern 168 #20,828
2009 modern 185 #20,010
2010 modern 195 #19,762
2011 modern 204 #19,040
2012 modern 194 #19,606
2013 modern 192 #20,067
2014 modern 201 #19,641
2015 modern 203 #19,381
2016 modern 220 #18,376

Geography

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Where Sarfos 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 Haringey, Enfield and Lambeth. 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 Haringey 037 Haringey
2 Enfield 025 Enfield
3 Haringey 002 Haringey
4 Lambeth 010 Lambeth
5 Enfield 024 Enfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sarfo

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sarfo

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

Sarfo 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

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

Meaning and origin of Sarfo

The surname SARFO is believed to have originated in Ghana, West Africa. It is a surname that can be traced back to the Akan people, who are one of the largest ethnic groups in Ghana. The name is thought to be derived from the Akan word "sare," which means a type of valuable wood or tree.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname SARFO can be found in the journals of European explorers who visited the region in the 16th century. These explorers often documented the names of local chiefs and leaders they encountered during their travels. It is possible that the surname was first recorded during this time period.

In the 19th century, the SARFO surname appeared in records kept by British colonial administrators in Ghana. These records often listed the names of local chiefs and other prominent individuals. One notable individual from this time period was Nana Sarfo Kantanka, a chief who was born in the early 1800s and played a role in negotiating treaties with the British.

Another historical figure with the SARFO surname was Kwasi Sarfo, a prominent Ghanaian merchant and trader who lived in the late 19th century. He was known for his involvement in the trade of goods such as cocoa and palm oil.

In the early 20th century, a man named Kofi Sarfo gained recognition as a skilled woodcarver and sculptor. His works were exhibited in various galleries and museums, and some of his pieces are still preserved in cultural institutions today.

One of the most famous individuals with the SARFO surname was Kwame Sarfo, a Ghanaian politician and activist who played a significant role in the country's independence movement in the 1950s. He served as a member of parliament and was an influential figure in the negotiations that led to Ghana's independence from British colonial rule in 1957.

While the surname SARFO has its roots in Ghana, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins can be traced back to the Akan people and their ancestral homeland in West Africa.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Sarfo surname: questions and answers

How common is the Sarfo surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 220 in 2016. That gives Sarfo a modern rank of #18,376.

What does the Sarfo surname mean?

An occupational surname of Akan origins, referring to a goldsmith or jeweler.

What does the Sarfo map show?

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