NameCensus.

UK surname

Banda

A Zambian surname referring to a tribal leader or ruler, derived from the word "mbanda" meaning "prince."

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Luton, Manchester and Kensington and Chelsea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Banda is 643 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

634

2016, ranked #8,340

Peak year

2014

643 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 634 in 2016, ranked #8,340.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 13 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Banda surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Banda surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Banda 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 13 #32,208
1891 historical 3 #34,257
1997 modern 94 #27,781
1998 modern 110 #26,129
1999 modern 119 #25,095
2000 modern 115 #25,591
2001 modern 114 #25,344
2002 modern 189 #18,950
2003 modern 224 #16,859
2004 modern 309 #13,618
2005 modern 361 #12,090
2006 modern 431 #10,600
2007 modern 475 #9,936
2008 modern 510 #9,499
2009 modern 576 #8,851
2010 modern 617 #8,604
2011 modern 556 #9,185
2012 modern 586 #8,757
2013 modern 626 #8,448
2014 modern 643 #8,337
2015 modern 634 #8,360
2016 modern 634 #8,340

Geography

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Where Bandas 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 Luton, Manchester, Kensington and Chelsea and Bolton. 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 Luton 021 Luton
2 Manchester 023 Manchester
3 Kensington and Chelsea 005 Kensington and Chelsea
4 Bolton 022 Bolton
5 Luton 016 Luton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Banda

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Banda

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

Banda 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

Banda falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Banda 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
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Banda, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Banda

The surname Banda is of Indian origin, derived from the Sanskrit word 'bandu' meaning a friend or relative. It is believed to have originated in the Indian subcontinent during the medieval period, particularly in the regions of modern-day Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 12th century, where it appeared in various historical records and manuscripts from the Delhi Sultanate. One notable example is the Banda Bahadur, a Sikh warrior and military leader who led a significant uprising against the Mughal Empire in the early 18th century.

In the 16th century, the name Banda was also associated with the Rajput warrior clans of northern India, particularly in the regions of Rajasthan and Gujarat. Several Rajput rulers and nobles bore the name, including Banda Singh Bahadur, a renowned warrior who fought against the Mughal armies in the 17th century.

As the Indian diaspora spread across the globe, the surname Banda found its way into various regions and countries. In East Africa, particularly in Kenya and Tanzania, the name is prevalent among the Indian communities that settled there during the colonial era.

One of the earliest documented instances of the name Banda outside of India can be found in the records of the East India Company, where a merchant named Banda Ram is mentioned as trading in the port city of Surat in the late 17th century.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Banda. These include:

1. Banda Singh Bahadur (1670-1716), a Sikh warrior and military leader known for his resistance against the Mughal Empire. 2. Kanthi Banda (1935-2014), an Indian writer and novelist renowned for her works in Telugu literature. 3. Srinivas Banda (born 1968), an Indian-American computer scientist and entrepreneur, known for his contributions to the field of artificial intelligence. 4. Rajeswara Rao Banda (1898-1975), an Indian freedom fighter and politician who served as a member of the Constituent Assembly of India. 5. Kavi Banda (born 1992), an Indian cricketer who has represented the national team in various formats.

While the surname Banda has its roots in India, it has since spread to various parts of the world, carried by individuals and families who have migrated and settled in different regions over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Banda surname: questions and answers

How common is the Banda surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 634 in 2016. That gives Banda a modern rank of #8,340.

What does the Banda surname mean?

A Zambian surname referring to a tribal leader or ruler, derived from the word "mbanda" meaning "prince."

What does the Banda map show?

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