NameCensus.

UK surname

Ceesay

An occupational surname derived from the West African soninke language, meaning "silversmith".

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ceesay is 541 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

541

2016, ranked #9,407

Peak year

2016

541 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 541 in 2016, ranked #9,407.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Ceesay surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ceesay surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ceesay 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
1997 modern 118 #24,423
1998 modern 128 #23,828
1999 modern 145 #22,305
2000 modern 148 #21,971
2001 modern 154 #21,122
2002 modern 197 #18,474
2003 modern 213 #17,395
2004 modern 250 #15,695
2005 modern 277 #14,542
2006 modern 323 #13,205
2007 modern 361 #12,303
2008 modern 398 #11,525
2009 modern 433 #11,031
2010 modern 477 #10,410
2011 modern 479 #10,280
2012 modern 499 #9,870
2013 modern 526 #9,664
2014 modern 535 #9,594
2015 modern 528 #9,633
2016 modern 541 #9,407

Geography

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Where Ceesays 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 Brent, Birmingham, Hackney and Wandsworth. 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 Brent 027 Brent
2 Birmingham 047 Birmingham
3 Hackney 024 Hackney
4 Wandsworth 007 Wandsworth
5 Birmingham 037 Birmingham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ceesay

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ceesay

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

Ceesay 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

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

Meaning and origin of Ceesay

The surname Ceesay is of Gambian origin, and is believed to have originated in the West African country during the 17th century. The name is derived from the Mandinka language, and is thought to be a patronymic, meaning "son of Ceesay". The Mandinka people are an ethnic group found predominantly in Gambia, Senegal, and Guinea-Bissau.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Ceesay can be found in the colonial records of the British Empire, as the region was under British rule during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The name appears in various spellings, including Ceeesay, Ceasay, and Ceesai, reflecting the phonetic nature of the name's transcription from the Mandinka language to English.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Ceesay was Alieu Ceesay, a Gambian soldier and politician who lived in the late 19th century. He served as a soldier in the British colonial army and later became a prominent figure in the local political landscape.

Another notable bearer of the name was Alhaji Alieu Ceesay, a Gambian businessman and philanthropist who lived in the early 20th century. He established several successful businesses and was known for his charitable contributions to the local community.

In the mid-20th century, Lamin Ceesay was a renowned Gambian scholar and educator. He made significant contributions to the study of Mandinka language and culture, and his works are still widely referenced today.

More recently, Isatou Ceesay, a Gambian activist and environmentalist, gained international recognition for her work in promoting sustainable living and environmental conservation. She founded the Gambian nonprofit organization Njau Recycling and Traditional Handicraft Society in the late 1990s.

Yusupha Ceesay, a Gambian professional footballer, has also brought attention to the surname through his successful career in European football leagues, including stints with various clubs in England and Spain.

While the surname Ceesay is most prevalent in Gambia, it can also be found in neighboring West African countries where the Mandinka people have settled, such as Senegal and Guinea-Bissau. The name is a testament to the rich cultural heritage of the Mandinka people and their contributions to the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Ceesay surname: questions and answers

How common is the Ceesay surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 541 in 2016. That gives Ceesay a modern rank of #9,407.

What does the Ceesay surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from the West African soninke language, meaning "silversmith".

What does the Ceesay map show?

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