NameCensus.

UK surname

Taiwo

A Yoruba surname meaning "first born of twins".

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Taiwo is 836 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

787

2016, ranked #7,014

Peak year

2010

836 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 787 in 2016, ranked #7,014.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Taiwo surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Taiwo surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Taiwo 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 303 #13,433
1998 modern 320 #13,299
1999 modern 336 #12,969
2000 modern 342 #12,771
2001 modern 327 #12,970
2002 modern 419 #11,059
2003 modern 490 #9,631
2004 modern 552 #8,833
2005 modern 605 #8,227
2006 modern 703 #7,326
2007 modern 766 #6,938
2008 modern 787 #6,846
2009 modern 800 #6,888
2010 modern 836 #6,779
2011 modern 773 #7,144
2012 modern 786 #6,945
2013 modern 772 #7,178
2014 modern 779 #7,153
2015 modern 778 #7,096
2016 modern 787 #7,014

Geography

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Where Taiwos 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 Greenwich and Southwark. 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 Greenwich 002 Greenwich
2 Greenwich 003 Greenwich
3 Southwark 020 Southwark
4 Southwark 018 Southwark
5 Southwark 021 Southwark

Forenames

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First names often paired with Taiwo

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Taiwo

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

Taiwo 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

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

Meaning and origin of Taiwo

The surname "TAIWO" originates from the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. It emerged during the medieval period, around the 14th century, when the Yoruba kingdoms were flourishing in the region. The name is derived from the Yoruba words "ta" meaning "to taste" and "iwo" meaning "existence" or "life," reflecting a deep cultural significance.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the historical records of the Oyo Empire, a prominent Yoruba kingdom that ruled over much of present-day southwestern Nigeria from the 14th to the 19th century. The name appears in various manuscripts and oral traditions, often associated with notable figures and families within the empire.

In the 16th century, a prominent figure named Taiwo Akinloye was mentioned in the annals of the Oyo Empire as a renowned warrior and advisor to the Alafin (king) of Oyo. His exploits and strategic counsel were celebrated, and his descendants continued to carry the surname, further solidifying its legacy.

During the 18th century, the name Taiwo gained recognition beyond the Yoruba heartland as the Oyo Empire expanded its influence through trade and diplomacy. Taiwo Oluwole, a skilled trader and diplomat, was instrumental in establishing trade routes and fostering relationships with neighboring kingdoms and empires.

In the 19th century, as the Yoruba kingdoms faced increasing pressures from external forces, the surname Taiwo continued to be associated with influential figures. Taiwo Olukoya, a respected scholar and teacher, played a pivotal role in preserving Yoruba cultural traditions and passing them down to subsequent generations.

Other notable individuals bearing the surname Taiwo include Taiwo Akingbolu (1820-1892), a prominent farmer and community leader in Ibadan, and Taiwo Oyewole (1865-1932), a renowned herbalist and traditional healer whose knowledge was sought after throughout the region.

The surname Taiwo has endured through the centuries, carrying the rich cultural heritage and historical significance of the Yoruba people. Its presence can be traced across various records, oral traditions, and historical accounts, serving as a testament to the enduring legacy of this ancient surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Taiwo surname: questions and answers

How common is the Taiwo surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 787 in 2016. That gives Taiwo a modern rank of #7,014.

What does the Taiwo surname mean?

A Yoruba surname meaning "first born of twins".

What does the Taiwo map show?

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