NameCensus.

UK surname

Wiafe

From Ghanaian origin meaning "tree rat" or "squirrel" in Twi language.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wiafe is 123 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

115

2016, ranked #28,348

Peak year

2010

123 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 115 in 2016, ranked #28,348.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Wiafe surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wiafe surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wiafe 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 29 #34,795
1998 modern 30 #34,833
1999 modern 33 #34,610
2000 modern 36 #34,317
2001 modern 35 #34,261
2002 modern 40 #34,133
2003 modern 47 #33,619
2004 modern 57 #32,968
2005 modern 80 #30,842
2006 modern 105 #27,479
2007 modern 109 #27,253
2008 modern 106 #28,016
2009 modern 111 #27,846
2010 modern 123 #26,728
2011 modern 123 #26,512
2012 modern 117 #27,394
2013 modern 121 #27,255
2014 modern 114 #28,608
2015 modern 115 #28,319
2016 modern 115 #28,348

Geography

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Where Wiafes 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 Sutton, Wandsworth 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 Sutton 019 Sutton
2 Wandsworth 031 Wandsworth
3 Wandsworth 032 Wandsworth
4 Milton Keynes 014 Milton Keynes
5 Milton Keynes 018 Milton Keynes

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wiafe

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wiafe

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

Wiafe 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

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

Meaning and origin of Wiafe

The surname Wiafe originates from Ghana, a country on the west coast of Africa. It is predominantly found among the Akan people, who are the largest ethnic group in Ghana. The surname Wiafe is derived from the Akan language, specifically from Twi, a language spoken by the Akan. It is a combination of words that often relate to individuals' ancestry, clan affiliations, or characteristics.

In Akan tradition, surnames play a significant role and are indicative of the family's lineage or clan. The name Wiafe may be linked to the tribal or familial roles, responsibilities, or the geographical origin of the family. Historically, Akan names were carefully selected to convey meaning and preserve histories, serving as a living record of the community's experiences and aspirations.

One of the earliest known records of the surname Wiafe is traced back to the 17th century, a period during which many Akan clans were establishing themselves. Although specific documentary references such as the Domesday Book are European and not directly applicable, Akan oral histories and genealogies function similarly to record family and clan names.

One prominent bearer of the surname was Dr. Wiafe-Akenten, born in the early 1900s, who was known for his contributions to Ghana's educational and healthcare systems. Another significant individual was Nana Kwame Wiafe, a paramount chief in the Ashanti region, renowned for his role in mediating conflicts and championing development in the mid-20th century.

Kwabena Wiafe was a notable athlete born in 1948, who excelled in middle-distance running and represented Ghana in multiple international competitions during the 1960s and 1970s. Another historical figure was Afia Wiafe, a social activist born in 1922, who was instrumental in advocating for women's rights and education in rural Ghana.

In the arts, Kofi Wiafe-Annor, born in 1935, was a celebrated playwright and poet whose works captured the essence of Akan culture and contributed to Ghana's literary heritage. His writings often explored themes of identity, tradition, and the struggles of modernity faced by Ghanaian society.

These examples illustrate the enduring legacy and cultural significance of the surname Wiafe within Ghanaian history. The name serves as a testament to the individuals who bore it and their contributions to the cultural, social, and historical fabric of Ghana.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Wiafe surname: questions and answers

How common is the Wiafe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 115 in 2016. That gives Wiafe a modern rank of #28,348.

What does the Wiafe surname mean?

From Ghanaian origin meaning "tree rat" or "squirrel" in Twi language.

What does the Wiafe map show?

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