NameCensus.

UK surname

Dlamini

A Zulu surname meaning the son of a leader or headman.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Redcar and Cleveland, Newcastle upon Tyne and Lewisham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dlamini is 255 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

255

2016, ranked #16,576

Peak year

2016

255 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 255 in 2016, ranked #16,576.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Dlamini surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dlamini surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dlamini 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 2 #34,135
1997 modern 21 #35,692
1998 modern 25 #35,365
1999 modern 20 #35,923
2000 modern 30 #34,885
2001 modern 36 #34,171
2002 modern 64 #32,007
2003 modern 75 #30,994
2004 modern 122 #24,812
2005 modern 150 #21,786
2006 modern 184 #19,254
2007 modern 190 #19,088
2008 modern 200 #18,640
2009 modern 239 #16,951
2010 modern 250 #16,791
2011 modern 232 #17,481
2012 modern 250 #16,523
2013 modern 249 #16,825
2014 modern 250 #16,905
2015 modern 251 #16,756
2016 modern 255 #16,576

Geography

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Where Dlaminis 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 Redcar and Cleveland, Newcastle upon Tyne, Lewisham, Welwyn Hatfield and Westminster. 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 Redcar and Cleveland 022 Redcar and Cleveland
2 Newcastle upon Tyne 011 Newcastle upon Tyne
3 Lewisham 024 Lewisham
4 Welwyn Hatfield 010 Welwyn Hatfield
5 Westminster 005 Westminster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dlamini

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dlamini

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

Dlamini 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

Dlamini falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Dlamini 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 Dlamini, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Dlamini

The surname Dlamini is of Swazi origin and has its roots in the Kingdom of Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland. It is a name that dates back to the 18th century and is derived from the Siswati word "dlamini," meaning "the great one" or "the one of high rank."

The Dlamini name is closely associated with the Swazi royal family, as it is the surname of the current and past monarchs of Eswatini. The earliest recorded mention of the name can be found in historical accounts and oral traditions that trace the lineage of the Dlamini clan back to the reign of King Ngwane III, who ruled the Swazi nation from around 1745 to 1780.

One of the most notable figures in Swazi history bearing the Dlamini name was King Mswati II, who ruled from 1840 to 1868. He is credited with uniting the Swazi people and consolidating the Kingdom of Eswatini during his reign. Another prominent Dlamini was King Sobhuza II, who reigned from 1899 to 1982 and is considered the father of modern Swaziland.

Beyond the royal lineage, the Dlamini name has been carried by many influential individuals throughout Swazi history. Makhosazana Dlamini, born in the late 19th century, was a renowned traditional healer and midwife who played a significant role in preserving Swazi cultural practices. Makhosonke Dlamini, who lived in the early 20th century, was a respected chief and advisor to the Swazi monarchy.

In more recent times, Prince Mangaliso Dlamini, born in 1945, has been a prominent figure in Swazi politics and served as Prime Minister of Eswatini from 1976 to 1979. Lindiwe Dlamini, born in 1963, is a respected Swazi writer and academic who has made significant contributions to the study of Swazi literature and culture.

While the Dlamini name has its roots in Eswatini, it has also spread to other parts of Southern Africa, including South Africa and Mozambique, due to migration and intermarriage. However, the name remains most closely associated with the Swazi people and their rich cultural heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Dlamini surname: questions and answers

How common is the Dlamini surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 255 in 2016. That gives Dlamini a modern rank of #16,576.

What does the Dlamini surname mean?

A Zulu surname meaning the son of a leader or headman.

What does the Dlamini map show?

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