NameCensus.

UK surname

Serwaa

A Ghanaian surname meaning "female born on Thursday".

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Serwaa is 116 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

116

2016, ranked #28,197

Peak year

2016

116 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 116 in 2016, ranked #28,197.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Serwaa surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Serwaa surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Serwaa 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 22 #35,584
1998 modern 23 #35,603
1999 modern 22 #35,725
2000 modern 26 #35,295
2001 modern 26 #35,152
2002 modern 31 #34,866
2003 modern 36 #34,522
2004 modern 42 #34,222
2005 modern 57 #33,178
2006 modern 69 #32,343
2007 modern 71 #32,484
2008 modern 77 #32,181
2009 modern 97 #30,076
2010 modern 100 #30,225
2011 modern 104 #29,424
2012 modern 107 #29,017
2013 modern 104 #30,076
2014 modern 107 #29,827
2015 modern 107 #29,708
2016 modern 116 #28,197

Geography

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Where Serwaas 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 Lambeth, Enfield, Hackney, Merton and Milton Keynes. 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 Lambeth 009 Lambeth
2 Enfield 027 Enfield
3 Hackney 016 Hackney
4 Merton 019 Merton
5 Milton Keynes 018 Milton Keynes

Forenames

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First names often paired with Serwaa

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Recent male names

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Serwaa

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

Serwaa 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

Serwaa 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 Serwaa is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 mbit/s.

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

7
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Black - African

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

Meaning and origin of Serwaa

The surname "SERWAA" originates from Ghana in West Africa. It is an Akan name from the Ashanti ethnic group, where it is traditionally given as a first name to a female born on Thursday.

The name "SERWAA" is derived from the Akan word "awukudae" which means "Thursday." In the Akan culture, each day of the week is associated with a specific name, and children are often named based on the day they were born.

Although "SERWAA" is primarily a first name, it has been adopted as a surname by some Ghanaian families over time. The earliest recorded use of "SERWAA" as a surname dates back to the late 19th century, during the colonial era in Ghana.

One notable historical figure with the surname "SERWAA" was Nana Yaa Serwaa, a prominent queen mother of the Ashanti Kingdom in the early 20th century. She played a significant role in the Ashanti resistance against British colonialism and was highly respected for her leadership and influence.

Another individual with the surname "SERWAA" was Kwaku Serwaa, a renowned Ghanaian sculptor and woodcarver who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His works, which often depicted traditional Ashanti themes and motifs, are considered important contributions to Ghanaian art and cultural heritage.

In the realm of education, Akua Serwaa was a pioneering Ghanaian educator and advocate for women's rights. She established one of the first girls' schools in Ghana in the early 20th century and worked tirelessly to promote educational opportunities for women.

A contemporary figure with the surname "SERWAA" is Efua Serwaa, a Ghanaian writer and poet who has gained recognition for her works that explore themes of identity, culture, and the African diaspora experience.

It is important to note that while "SERWAA" is a traditional Akan name, it has transcended its cultural origins and is now found among various Ghanaian ethnic groups and communities, reflecting the diversity and richness of Ghanaian culture and heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Serwaa surname: questions and answers

How common is the Serwaa surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 116 in 2016. That gives Serwaa a modern rank of #28,197.

What does the Serwaa surname mean?

A Ghanaian surname meaning "female born on Thursday".

What does the Serwaa map show?

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