NameCensus.

UK surname

Tawiah

A West African occupational surname referring to a renowned fisherman or hunter.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tawiah is 191 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

191

2016, ranked #20,194

Peak year

2016

191 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 191 in 2016, ranked #20,194.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Tawiah surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tawiah surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tawiah 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
1861 historical 2 #34,135
1997 modern 56 #32,004
1998 modern 65 #31,477
1999 modern 68 #31,311
2000 modern 74 #30,785
2001 modern 75 #30,481
2002 modern 93 #28,920
2003 modern 104 #27,101
2004 modern 131 #23,756
2005 modern 139 #22,887
2006 modern 147 #22,221
2007 modern 160 #21,296
2008 modern 169 #20,745
2009 modern 181 #20,277
2010 modern 181 #20,738
2011 modern 167 #21,642
2012 modern 187 #20,086
2013 modern 183 #20,722
2014 modern 185 #20,739
2015 modern 189 #20,345
2016 modern 191 #20,194

Geography

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Where Tawiahs 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 Milton Keynes, Hackney, Enfield and Newham. 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 Milton Keynes 018 Milton Keynes
2 Hackney 010 Hackney
3 Enfield 037 Enfield
4 Newham 008 Newham
5 Hackney 002 Hackney

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tawiah

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tawiah

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

Tawiah 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

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

Meaning and origin of Tawiah

The surname Tawiah originates from the Akan people of Ghana, West Africa. It is believed to have originated in the 17th century or earlier, deriving from the Akan word "tawia" which means "twin" or "one of twins".

Historically, the Akan people were known for their rich cultural traditions, including the naming practices that often reflected the circumstances or events surrounding a child's birth. Twins held a special significance in Akan culture, and names like Tawiah were likely bestowed upon one of the twins.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Tawiah can be traced back to the Ashanti Kingdom, a powerful Akan empire that existed in present-day Ghana from the late 17th to the late 19th century. During this period, the name appeared in various oral histories and records kept by the Ashanti people.

In the 19th century, the name Tawiah gained wider recognition beyond the Akan people when it was documented by European explorers and missionaries who traveled to the region. One notable example is the work of British explorer and writer Robert Graves, who mentioned the name in his 1898 book "A Tour Along the Prah".

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the surname Tawiah. One of the earliest was Nana Tawiah Akroma (c. 1820-1884), a prominent chief of the Ashanti Kingdom who played a significant role in the Anglo-Ashanti Wars against the British Empire.

Another notable figure was Kwasi Tawiah (1884-1962), a Ghanaian educator and pioneer in the field of African literature. He was one of the first Ghanaian authors to have his works published in English and was instrumental in promoting indigenous African writing.

In the 20th century, Ghanaian politician and diplomat Tawiah Adamafio (1923-2000) made a mark on the international stage. He served as the Secretary-General of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa from 1962 to 1975 and played a pivotal role in promoting economic development and cooperation across the African continent.

More recently, Ghanaian artist and sculptor Kofi Tawiah (born 1951) has gained recognition for his intricate wood carvings and sculptures that depict various aspects of Akan culture and traditions.

Tawiah Adjapong (born 1977) is a Ghanaian-American scientist and engineer who has made significant contributions to the field of aerospace engineering, working on projects for NASA and the private space industry.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Tawiah surname: questions and answers

How common is the Tawiah surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 191 in 2016. That gives Tawiah a modern rank of #20,194.

What does the Tawiah surname mean?

A West African occupational surname referring to a renowned fisherman or hunter.

What does the Tawiah map show?

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