NameCensus.

UK surname

Drammeh

A Gambian surname potentially derived from the African verb "dram" meaning "to work hard".

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Drammeh is 193 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

191

2016, ranked #20,194

Peak year

2015

193 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 191 in 2016, ranked #20,194.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Drammeh surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Drammeh surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Drammeh 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 28 #34,904
1998 modern 26 #35,254
1999 modern 23 #35,612
2000 modern 27 #35,188
2001 modern 32 #34,537
2002 modern 44 #33,790
2003 modern 48 #33,533
2004 modern 59 #32,787
2005 modern 62 #32,708
2006 modern 84 #30,665
2007 modern 106 #27,722
2008 modern 118 #26,212
2009 modern 128 #25,427
2010 modern 146 #23,921
2011 modern 133 #25,177
2012 modern 160 #22,260
2013 modern 176 #21,237
2014 modern 171 #21,812
2015 modern 193 #20,056
2016 modern 191 #20,194

Geography

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Where Drammehs 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 Reading, Hackney, Brighton and Hove, Aylesbury Vale and Bradford. 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 Reading 016 Reading
2 Hackney 010 Hackney
3 Brighton and Hove 012 Brighton and Hove
4 Aylesbury Vale 024 Aylesbury Vale
5 Bradford 042 Bradford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Drammeh

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Drammeh

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

Drammeh 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

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

Meaning and origin of Drammeh

The surname DRAMMEH is believed to have originated in West Africa, specifically in the Gambia region. It is derived from the Mandinka language spoken in parts of Senegal, Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau. The name is thought to be a variation of the word "dramme," which means "to walk or stride."

The earliest known recorded instances of the DRAMMEH surname can be traced back to the late 16th century, when the region was heavily involved in the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Some historical records show individuals with the surname being captured and sold into slavery during this period.

One notable figure with the DRAMMEH surname was Lamin Drammeh, a Gambian soldier and military leader who fought against the British colonial forces in the late 19th century. He was born around 1840 and led a resistance movement against the British until his capture and execution in 1901.

Another prominent individual was Samba Drammeh, a revered Gambian griot (oral historian and storyteller) who lived in the early 20th century. He was known for preserving and passing down the rich cultural traditions and histories of the Mandinka people through his oral narratives and performances.

In the late 20th century, Fatou Drammeh made a significant contribution to the field of education in Gambia. Born in 1948, she served as the principal of several prominent schools and worked tirelessly to improve access to quality education, particularly for girls and women in rural areas.

Ousman Drammeh, born in 1962, is a renowned Gambian artist and sculptor. His works, which often depict traditional Mandinka culture and themes, have been exhibited in galleries and museums around the world, showcasing the rich artistic heritage of his homeland.

Lastly, Lamin Drammeh, born in 1978, is a Gambian-American author and journalist. His memoir, "A House in Exile," published in 2014, recounts his experiences as a political refugee fleeing his home country during the turbulent regime of President Yahya Jammeh.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Drammeh surname: questions and answers

How common is the Drammeh surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 191 in 2016. That gives Drammeh a modern rank of #20,194.

What does the Drammeh surname mean?

A Gambian surname potentially derived from the African verb "dram" meaning "to work hard".

What does the Drammeh map show?

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