Owolabi

Origin and Meaning Owolabi is a surname of Nigerian Yoruba origin, predominantly found among the Yoruba people in Nigeria. The name is common among the Yoruba ethnic group, and it is often given to male children. The name Owolabi is derived from the Yoruba words "owo" meaning 'wealth' and "olabi" meaning 'born into wealth', signifying a fortunate or wealthy person.

Distribution and Population While primarily a Nigerian surname, Owolabi can also be found among the Yoruba diaspora in other countries, including the United Kingdom. Within the UK, individuals with the surname Owolabi may have Nigerian heritage or family connections to Nigeria.

Notable People Notable individuals with the surname Owolabi include:

  1. Segun Owolabi - Nigerian-British artist known for his contemporary artworks exploring identity and culture.
  2. Wale B. Owolabi - An academic researcher and expert in African history and culture based in the UK.

Coat of Arms As with many African surnames, the Owolabi name does not have a traditional coat of arms associated with it. Coat of arms are a predominantly European heraldic tradition, and African surnames typically do not have heraldic symbols.

In conclusion, Owolabi is a Nigerian Yoruba surname that signifies wealth or being born into wealth. It has a strong cultural significance among the Yoruba people and is also present in the Nigerian diaspora, including in the United Kingdom.

There are approximately 960 people named Owolabi in the UK. That makes it roughly the 7,598th most common surname in Britain. Around 15 in a million people in Britain are named Owolabi.

Region of origin: Africa

Country of origin: Nigeria

Language of origin: Yoruba

Typical given names associated with the surname

Male

  • Abiodun
  • Babatunde
  • Christopher
  • Duro
  • Jason
  • John
  • Lanre
  • Michael
  • Olanrewaju
  • Olufemi
  • Olusegun
  • Olusola
  • Oluwole
  • Samuel

Female

  • Abimbola
  • Elizabeth
  • Esther
  • Florence
  • Iwalola
  • Kehinde
  • Lola
  • Mary
  • Ola
  • Olayinka
  • Temitope
  • Tolulope

Similar and related surnames

Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.

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