NameCensus.

UK surname

Armah

A surname of West African origin, possibly derived from the Akan word "ama" meaning birth or life.

In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Armah surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 211, ranked #18,904, up from #33,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Greenwich, Bromley and Merton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Armah is 215 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 10450.0%.

1881 census count

2

Ranked #33,721

Modern count

211

2016, ranked #18,904

Peak year

2009

215 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Armah had 2 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 211 in 2016, ranked #18,904.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 7 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Armah surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Armah surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Armah 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 2 #33,133
1861 historical 7 #33,053
1881 historical 2 #33,721
1997 modern 109 #25,650
1998 modern 110 #26,129
1999 modern 103 #27,305
2000 modern 105 #27,001
2001 modern 109 #26,059
2002 modern 127 #24,267
2003 modern 133 #23,359
2004 modern 156 #21,261
2005 modern 164 #20,552
2006 modern 183 #19,326
2007 modern 199 #18,542
2008 modern 204 #18,403
2009 modern 215 #18,179
2010 modern 206 #19,066
2011 modern 203 #19,098
2012 modern 202 #19,084
2013 modern 204 #19,276
2014 modern 204 #19,439
2015 modern 208 #19,085
2016 modern 211 #18,904

Geography

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Where Armahs 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 Greenwich, Bromley, Merton and Tower Hamlets. 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 Greenwich 005 Greenwich
2 Bromley 004 Bromley
3 Greenwich 004 Greenwich
4 Merton 014 Merton
5 Tower Hamlets 002 Tower Hamlets

Forenames

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First names often paired with Armah

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Armah

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Armah surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Armah 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 includes many younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Armah 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

Armah 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

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

Meaning and origin of Armah

The surname Armah has its origins in Ghana, a country located in West Africa. It is derived from the Akan language, one of the most widely spoken languages in the region. The name can be traced back to the 14th century, during the rise of the Ashanti Empire.

Armah is believed to be a variant of the word 'Amrama', which means 'born on a Saturday' in Akan. This suggests that the name may have been initially given to individuals born on that particular day of the week. The earliest recorded instances of the name appear in oral histories and traditional folktales passed down through generations.

One of the earliest known references to the name Armah can be found in the Akan oral tradition, which recounts the story of Nana Armah Kwaku, a revered leader and warrior who lived in the late 16th century. Nana Armah Kwaku is celebrated for his bravery and strategic prowess during the expansion of the Ashanti Kingdom.

In the late 18th century, the name appeared in written records documenting the arrival of Akan traders and settlers in the Caribbean region. One notable figure from this period was Kwasi Armah, a businessman and community leader in Jamaica, who was born in 1772.

Another significant bearer of the name was Kwame Armah, a renowned Ghanaian scholar and philosopher who lived from 1888 to 1976. Armah was a prominent figure in the Pan-African movement and played a crucial role in shaping the intellectual discourse around African identity and decolonization.

In the realm of literature, Ayi Kwei Armah is a highly acclaimed Ghanaian novelist and essayist. Born in 1939, Armah's works, such as "The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born" and "Two Thousand Seasons," have gained international recognition and explored themes of social criticism and cultural identity.

The name Armah has also been associated with places in Ghana, such as Armah-Obeng, a town located in the Central Region. Additionally, variations like Arma and Armah-Mensah have been recorded throughout history.

While the surname Armah has its roots in Ghana and the Akan culture, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins and historical significance remain deeply rooted in the rich cultural heritage of West Africa.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Armah families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Armah 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. Lanarkshire leads with 2 Armahs recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.05x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 2 32.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 2 Armahs recorded in 1881 and an index of 129.87x.

Place Total Index
Govan 2 129.87x

FAQ

Armah surname: questions and answers

How common was the Armah surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2 people were recorded with the Armah surname. That placed it at #33,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Armah surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 211 in 2016. That gives Armah a modern rank of #18,904.

What does the Armah surname mean?

A surname of West African origin, possibly derived from the Akan word "ama" meaning birth or life.

What does the Armah map show?

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