Surname Oke - Meaning and Origin

Oke: What does the surname Oke mean?

The surname Oke originates from Southwestern England, particularly from Devon region. It is derived from the Old English word "ac", which means "oak". The name Oke is often associated with geographic locations, such as Oakholm, which means island of oaks, or Oakley, which means wood/clearing of oaks. Over time, the spelling "ac" took different forms eventually becoming "oke". It may have been used to identify individuals living near an oak tree or a grove of oaks. The surname could also be occupational in nature, referring to someone who worked with oak wood. Therefore, it is a topographic surname given to people denoting their residence or a habitational name from any of the places like Okeford (Dorset), Oakford (Devon), or Okehampton (Devon). It might also be a nickname or a metonymic occupational name for a person who worked with oak wood possibly in the construction or furniture-making industries, derived from the Middle English "oke" or "oak".

Oke: Where does the name Oke come from?

The last name Oke is a surname of Irish origin, and is found across Ireland today. It is most commonly found in County Monaghan, where it is among the 10 most popular surnames. Other Irish counties with a significant number of Okes include Donegal, Cavan, Meath, Galway, and Clare. Outside of Ireland, the last name is seen mainly in former British colonial countries, such as the UK, Australia, India, Bangladesh, Canada, and the United States.

In the United Kingdom, Oke is a relatively uncommon name. With an estimated total of only 6,000 people in England and Wales, it ranks 621st on the list of most popular British surnames. In Canada, it is also a rare name and ranks 1,148th on the list of most popular surnames in Canada.

In Australia, Oke is the 1,141st most common surname. It is widely spread throughout the country, but is especially common in the states of New South Wales and Victoria. In New Zealand, it is ranked 1,541 on the list of most common names.

In the United States, the last name Oke is more common. According to the US Social Security Administration, it is the 12,536th most popular name in the country, with about 6,000 Americans having the name. Most of these people reside in California, Texas, and Pennsylvania.

Variations of the surname Oke

The surname Oke is derived from the Old English locational name 'Oak', which originated from the pre-7th century 'Uche'. This surname has various different variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Some of the variants of this surname are Oakes, Oakeson, Oakeson, Oakeses, Oaksey, Oaked, Oaken, Oakey, Oakey, Oakham, Oakhams, Okeham, Okehams, Oken, and Ooaks. These all share the same root, which is 'Uche' meaning, 'oak' or 'oak tree'.

The surname Oke has several spellings and surnames of the same origin, such as Acheson, Achesonn, Achleson, Ackleson, Acleson, Aclisson, Acocke, Acockes, Aoke, Aokes, Aoks, Aokeson, Oaks, Ockson, Awks, Awsom, Ogg, Oggs, Ogim, Okell, Okley and so on. There are also many Scottish variants such as Ake, Akens, Akenson, Akins, Akiens, Akins, Oggs, and Ogrock.

In America, the surname Oke has taken many different forms over time, with various spellings and surnames derived from it, such as Oak, Oakes, Oaks, Oakeson, Oakley, Okley, Okal, Okie, Ocke, Okken, Ocken, Okens, Ockens, and Oken. Other variants are Oakerson, Oakerton, Oker, Okerson, Okerston, Okeston, Okerstar, Okestar, Okester, and Okem.

Overall, the surname Oke has many different spellings, variants, and surnames of the same origin. It is likely the result of a long and diverse genealogical history, with various branches and iterations of the same root word.

Famous people with the name Oke

• Oluwafemi Oke: Oluwafemi Oke is a gospel musician from Nigeria. He is a singer and recording artist best known for the success of his single "Follow God's Voice".
• Ambode Oke: Ambode Oke is a Nigerian motivational speaker, public figure, and business advisor. He is an advocate for entrepreneurship, business optimization, and youth empowerment.
• Alaba Oke: Alaba Oke is a popular radio presenter in Nigeria. He is the former host of the popular show 'Alaba Oke in the Morning'.
• Ola Oke: Ola Oke is a singer-songwriter from Nigeria. She has released an EP and numerous singles, as well as doing remixes of older songs.
• Muhammad Oke: Muhammad Oke is a sprinter from Nigeria who competed in the 2016 Olympics.
• Abiola Oke: Abiola Oke is a Yoruba filmmaker from Nigeria. His films often explore the challenges of modern life in Africa.
• Olaide Oke: Olaide Oke is a Nigerian writer and journalist. She has written books about African history, culture, and the women's movement.
• Segun Oke: Segun Oke is a Nigerian businessman, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He is the founder of SOGA Oil and Gas, a drilling and exploration company.
• Olawunmi Oke: Olawunmi Oke is an actress and former model from Nigeria. She was a contestant on Big Brother Africa 2010.
• John Oke: John Oke is a former Nigerian professional footballer. He played in the Nigeria Premier League from 1999-2007.

Other surnames

OkenfusOkes