NameCensus.

UK surname

Debrah

A variant spelling of the Hebrew name Deborah, meaning "bee".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lambeth, The Vale of Glamorgan and Bexley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Debrah is 147 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

147

2016, ranked #24,071

Peak year

2016

147 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 147 in 2016, ranked #24,071.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 9 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Debrah surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Debrah surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Debrah 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 9 #32,724
1891 historical 5 #33,939
1901 historical 2 #34,263
1911 historical 1 #34,332
1997 modern 54 #32,210
1998 modern 58 #32,138
1999 modern 67 #31,409
2000 modern 68 #31,380
2001 modern 64 #31,602
2002 modern 78 #30,601
2003 modern 88 #29,506
2004 modern 105 #27,181
2005 modern 103 #27,531
2006 modern 113 #26,267
2007 modern 115 #26,348
2008 modern 134 #24,249
2009 modern 136 #24,485
2010 modern 137 #24,907
2011 modern 130 #25,547
2012 modern 136 #24,830
2013 modern 131 #25,932
2014 modern 133 #25,851
2015 modern 138 #25,103
2016 modern 147 #24,071

Geography

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Where Debrahs 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 Lambeth, The Vale of Glamorgan, Bexley, Greenwich and Merton. 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 Lambeth 017 Lambeth
2 The Vale of Glamorgan 006 Vale of Glamorgan
3 Bexley 002 Bexley
4 Greenwich 001 Greenwich
5 Merton 019 Merton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Debrah

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Debrah

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

Debrah 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

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

Meaning and origin of Debrah

The surname DEBRAH is believed to have originated in the Languedoc region of southern France during the early medieval period, specifically in the areas around the city of Narbonne. It is thought to derive from the Occitan word "debra," meaning "to break" or "to open," possibly referring to an occupation such as a woodcutter or someone who cleared land.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in a 13th-century cartulary (a medieval manuscript containing transcripts of charters and other legal documents) from the Abbey of Fontfroide, located near Narbonne. The document mentions a "Petrus de Brah," likely an ancestor of the modern DEBRAH surname.

In the 14th century, the name appears to have spread throughout the Languedoc region and into neighboring areas. A notable figure from this time was Guilhem Debrah (c. 1320 - c. 1385), a landowner and minor noble from the village of Capendu, near Carcassonne.

As the name spread, variations in spelling began to emerge, including Debra, Debrau, and Debraw. These alternative spellings can be found in various records from the 15th and 16th centuries, such as the Taille Rolls (tax rolls) of the city of Béziers.

During the 17th century, the surname gained prominence with the birth of Jean-Baptiste Debrah (1634 - 1707), a renowned playwright and poet from Montpellier. His works, which included several popular theatrical comedies, helped to further establish the name in the region.

Another notable figure was Marie Debrah (1755 - 1833), a French Revolutionary who participated in the storming of the Bastille in 1789. She was later awarded a pension by the Revolutionary government for her role in the historic event.

As the name spread beyond the Languedoc region, it eventually made its way to other parts of Europe and beyond. One example is Johann Debrah (1821 - 1896), a German-born explorer and naturalist who conducted extensive research in South America, particularly in the Amazon basin.

While the origin of the surname DEBRAH can be traced back to medieval France, it has since become more widely dispersed, with bearers of the name found in various parts of the world today. However, its roots remain firmly planted in the rich history and culture of the Languedoc region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Debrah surname: questions and answers

How common is the Debrah surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 147 in 2016. That gives Debrah a modern rank of #24,071.

What does the Debrah surname mean?

A variant spelling of the Hebrew name Deborah, meaning "bee".

What does the Debrah map show?

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