NameCensus.

UK surname

Tettey

A surname derived from a Ghanaian Akan word meaning "wondrous" or "marvellous".

In the 1881 census there were 3 people recorded with the Tettey surname, ranking it #33,498 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 116, ranked #28,197, up from #33,498 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tettey is 116 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 3766.7%.

1881 census count

3

Ranked #33,498

Modern count

116

2016, ranked #28,197

Peak year

2016

116 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tettey had 3 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,498 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 116 in 2016, ranked #28,197.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 98 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Tettey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tettey surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tettey 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
1851 historical 14 #30,790
1861 historical 96 #21,648
1881 historical 3 #33,498
1891 historical 98 #24,313
1901 historical 8 #33,289
1911 historical 19 #31,416
1997 modern 66 #31,038
1998 modern 60 #31,931
1999 modern 63 #31,798
2000 modern 63 #31,829
2001 modern 60 #31,985
2002 modern 69 #31,527
2003 modern 79 #30,549
2004 modern 84 #30,244
2005 modern 96 #28,671
2006 modern 106 #27,332
2007 modern 111 #26,954
2008 modern 104 #28,341
2009 modern 110 #27,991
2010 modern 114 #28,017
2011 modern 108 #28,811
2012 modern 104 #29,543
2013 modern 113 #28,502
2014 modern 111 #29,113
2015 modern 111 #28,986
2016 modern 116 #28,197

Geography

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Where Tetteys 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 Hackney, Coventry, Barnet and Brent. 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 Hackney 010 Hackney
2 Coventry 035 Coventry
3 Coventry 039 Coventry
4 Barnet 034 Barnet
5 Brent 024 Brent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tettey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tettey

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

Tettey 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

Tettey falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Tettey 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 Tettey, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Tettey

The surname Tettey has its origins in Ghana, West Africa, with roots tracing back to the 18th century. It is believed to have originated from the Akan language, spoken by various ethnic groups in the region, including the Ashanti and Fante people.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tettey can be found in historical documents from the British colonial era in Ghana, formerly known as the Gold Coast. During this period, many Ghanaian names were anglicized or adapted to fit the European naming conventions.

The name Tettey is thought to be derived from the Akan word "tetee," which means "father" or "ancestor." This suggests that the surname may have been initially used to identify individuals as descendants of a particular lineage or clan.

In the late 18th century, a prominent figure named Tettey Kwao Ansah is mentioned in historical records as a powerful chief and ruler of the Fante people. He played a significant role in defending his territory against the Ashanti Empire, forming alliances with the British and Dutch forces.

Another notable individual with the surname Tettey was Kwame Nkrumah Tettey, a Ghanaian educator and writer born in 1892. He was a pioneering figure in the development of education in Ghana and authored several books on African history and culture.

In the 20th century, the name Tettey gained further recognition with Kwesi Tettey, a Ghanaian boxer who competed in the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. Despite not winning a medal, his participation brought international attention to the surname.

Henrietta Tettey, born in 1920, was a prominent Ghanaian journalist and activist who advocated for women's rights and social justice. She played a crucial role in the fight for Ghana's independence and was recognized for her contributions to the country's political and cultural landscape.

Throughout history, variations of the surname Tettey have been recorded, such as Tetteh, Tette, and Tety, reflecting the diverse linguistic and cultural influences in the region. However, the core meaning and significance of the name as a representation of ancestry and lineage have remained consistent.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tettey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tettey surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Yorkshire leads with 3 Tetteys recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.36x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 3 10.36x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ripon in Yorkshire leads with 3 Tetteys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4285.71x.

Place Total Index
Ripon 3 4285.71x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Tettey surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 2

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Tettey surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Crispin 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Tettey households.

Occupation Count
Scholar 2
Licensed Hawker 1

FAQ

Tettey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tettey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3 people were recorded with the Tettey surname. That placed it at #33,498 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tettey surname today?

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

What does the Tettey surname mean?

A surname derived from a Ghanaian Akan word meaning "wondrous" or "marvellous".

What does the Tettey map show?

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