NameCensus.

UK surname

Attah

A Turkish surname meaning "father" or "ancestor".

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Attah is 185 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

178

2016, ranked #21,160

Peak year

2014

185 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 178 in 2016, ranked #21,160.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Attah surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Attah surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Attah 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
1861 historical 1 #34,435
1891 historical 2 #34,436
1997 modern 72 #30,415
1998 modern 77 #30,289
1999 modern 78 #30,327
2000 modern 80 #30,139
2001 modern 74 #30,600
2002 modern 87 #29,644
2003 modern 95 #28,536
2004 modern 102 #27,637
2005 modern 120 #25,066
2006 modern 143 #22,619
2007 modern 147 #22,510
2008 modern 158 #21,690
2009 modern 171 #21,024
2010 modern 180 #20,812
2011 modern 165 #21,829
2012 modern 164 #21,883
2013 modern 181 #20,879
2014 modern 185 #20,739
2015 modern 184 #20,719
2016 modern 178 #21,160

Geography

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Where Attahs 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, Brent, Southwark, Croydon and Bath and North East Somerset. 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 012 Greenwich
2 Brent 027 Brent
3 Southwark 006 Southwark
4 Croydon 011 Croydon
5 Bath and North East Somerset 010 Bath and North East Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Attah

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Attah

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Attah 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

Attah 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

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

Meaning and origin of Attah

The surname Attah is believed to have originated from the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria. It is likely derived from the Igbo word "atta," which means "father" or "patriarch." The name's roots can be traced back to the 15th century, during the height of the Igbo kingdoms in the region.

In the early days of the Igbo civilization, surnames were not widely used. Instead, people were identified by their village or town of origin, their lineage, or their profession. The Attah name emerged as a way to denote the head of a family or clan, highlighting the importance of patriarchal authority in Igbo society.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Attah name can be found in the oral histories and traditions of the Igbo people. These accounts often referred to the "Attah" as the leader or chief of a particular community, responsible for guiding and protecting their people.

As the Igbo migrated and spread across various regions of Nigeria, the Attah name traveled with them. In the 18th and 19th centuries, written records began to appear, documenting individuals with the surname Attah. One notable example is Attah Ameh, a prominent Igbo trader and merchant who lived in the late 18th century and facilitated trade between the Igbo and neighboring ethnic groups.

Another significant figure bearing the Attah name was Nwakediuko Attah, a renowned warrior and leader of the Aro Confederacy in the mid-19th century. He played a crucial role in defending the Aro people against foreign invaders and preserving their cultural heritage.

In more recent times, the Attah surname has gained recognition through individuals like Emmanuel Attah, a Nigerian novelist and playwright born in 1945, whose works explored themes of identity and social justice. Additionally, Ladi Attah, born in 1957, is a prominent Nigerian architect and urban planner known for her contributions to sustainable urban development.

While the Attah name originated in Nigeria, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, its roots remain firmly grounded in the rich cultural traditions of the Igbo people, serving as a testament to their historical significance and enduring influence.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Attah surname: questions and answers

How common is the Attah surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 178 in 2016. That gives Attah a modern rank of #21,160.

What does the Attah surname mean?

A Turkish surname meaning "father" or "ancestor".

What does the Attah map show?

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