NameCensus.

UK surname

Conteh

A surname of West African origin typically associated with the Mandinka ethnic group.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Conteh is 929 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

929

2016, ranked #6,153

Peak year

2016

929 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 929 in 2016, ranked #6,153.
  • 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.

Conteh surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Conteh surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Conteh 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 7 #33,053
1997 modern 283 #14,037
1998 modern 306 #13,720
1999 modern 333 #13,049
2000 modern 357 #12,380
2001 modern 370 #11,904
2002 modern 440 #10,638
2003 modern 496 #9,540
2004 modern 513 #9,338
2005 modern 577 #8,506
2006 modern 643 #7,868
2007 modern 678 #7,633
2008 modern 718 #7,335
2009 modern 779 #7,031
2010 modern 852 #6,681
2011 modern 812 #6,848
2012 modern 838 #6,600
2013 modern 858 #6,580
2014 modern 890 #6,431
2015 modern 919 #6,231
2016 modern 929 #6,153

Geography

Back to top

Where Contehs 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 Southwark. 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 Southwark 022 Southwark
2 Southwark 018 Southwark
3 Southwark 019 Southwark
4 Southwark 016 Southwark
5 Southwark 021 Southwark

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Conteh

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Conteh

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Conteh, 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 Conteh surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Conteh 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, Conteh 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

Conteh 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

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

Meaning and origin of Conteh

The surname Conteh originated in West Africa, specifically in the regions of present-day Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia. It is believed to have its roots in the Mandinka language, which is a part of the Mandé branch of the Niger-Congo language family.

The name Conteh is thought to be derived from the Mandinka word "kontho," which means "warrior" or "brave one." This suggests that the surname may have been initially given to individuals who displayed exceptional courage and bravery in battle or during times of conflict.

Historical records indicate that the surname Conteh can be traced back to the 16th century, when it was used by various ethnic groups within the region, such as the Mandinka, Susu, and Limba. It is possible that the name appeared in oral traditions, songs, and oral histories passed down through generations before being recorded in written form.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Conteh can be found in the writings of Portuguese explorer André Álvares de Almada, who documented his encounters with West African kingdoms in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. He mentioned individuals with the surname Conteh among the ruling elite and warriors of the Mandinka Empire.

Notable individuals throughout history who bore the surname Conteh include Almamy Conteh (c. 1760-1836), a prominent military leader and ruler of the Mandinka Empire in present-day Guinea; Sori Conteh (c. 1810-1880), a renowned warrior and chief of the Susu people in Sierra Leone; and Bai Bureh Conteh (c. 1840-1898), a legendary leader who led the Hut Tax War against British colonial rule in Sierra Leone.

In more recent times, Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Conteh (1916-2005) was a prominent politician and diplomat from Sierra Leone, serving as the country's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador to the United Nations. Additionally, Amadu Conteh (1936-2017) was a respected Sierra Leonean academic and author, known for his works on African literature and culture.

While the spelling "Conteh" is the most common variant, historical records also show variations such as "Konteh," "Conte," and "Conté," which likely reflect different regional dialects and orthographic traditions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Conteh surname: questions and answers

How common is the Conteh surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 929 in 2016. That gives Conteh a modern rank of #6,153.

What does the Conteh surname mean?

A surname of West African origin typically associated with the Mandinka ethnic group.

What does the Conteh map show?

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