NameCensus.

UK surname

Hama

An occupational surname referring to a hammer smith or metal worker.

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Hama surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 165, ranked #22,234, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sandwell, Bradford and East Hampshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hama is 165 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 16400.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

165

2016, ranked #22,234

Peak year

2016

165 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hama had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 165 in 2016, ranked #22,234.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 35 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Hama surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hama surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hama 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
1851 historical 15 #30,614
1861 historical 35 #29,571
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1901 historical 4 #33,876
1911 historical 7 #33,083
1997 modern 4 #38,094
1998 modern 7 #37,533
1999 modern 9 #37,217
2000 modern 8 #37,264
2001 modern 6 #37,456
2002 modern 7 #37,379
2003 modern 15 #36,415
2004 modern 21 #35,969
2005 modern 31 #35,260
2006 modern 37 #35,074
2007 modern 46 #34,634
2008 modern 58 #33,918
2009 modern 80 #32,277
2010 modern 97 #30,697
2011 modern 119 #27,063
2012 modern 143 #24,019
2013 modern 149 #23,765
2014 modern 150 #23,864
2015 modern 157 #22,997
2016 modern 165 #22,234

Geography

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Where Hamas 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 Sandwell, Bradford, East Hampshire, Gedling and Kirklees. 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 Sandwell 026 Sandwell
2 Bradford 045 Bradford
3 East Hampshire 012 East Hampshire
4 Gedling 004 Gedling
5 Kirklees 039 Kirklees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hama

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hama

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

Hama 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

Hama 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 Hama 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
Other Ethnic Group

This describes the area pattern most associated with Hama, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Hama

The surname HAMA originated in Germany during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old German word "hama," which means "homestead" or "hamlet." This suggests that the name originally referred to someone who lived in a small rural settlement.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname HAMA can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of medieval documents from the region of Saxony, dating back to the 12th century. In this codex, a person named "Conradus de Hama" is mentioned in a land grant from the year 1185.

Another early reference to the name HAMA appears in the Urkundenbuch des Hochstifts Merseburg, a book of records from the Bishopric of Merseburg, where a "Heinricus de Hama" is documented as a witness to a legal transaction in 1227.

During the 13th century, the name HAMA was also associated with the town of Hama (now known as Hamm) in the Westphalia region of Germany. This connection is evident in a document from 1249, which mentions a "Johannes de Hama," likely referring to someone from the town of Hama.

One notable historical figure with the surname HAMA was Johann Hama (1463-1529), a German theologian and reformer who played a significant role in the early stages of the Protestant Reformation. He was a close associate of Martin Luther and participated in the Leipzig Debate of 1519.

Another individual of note was Matthias Hama (1528-1602), a German composer and organist who served as the Kapellmeister at the court of the Elector of Saxony in Dresden. His works include several masses, motets, and other sacred compositions.

In the 16th century, the HAMA surname also made its way to the Netherlands, where a family by the name of Hama was prominent in the city of Utrecht. One member of this family, Pieter Hama (1570-1637), was a successful merchant and served as a city councilor.

During the 17th century, the surname HAMA appeared in various records across German-speaking regions, such as the Kirchenbücher (church records) of various parishes. One notable example is Hans Hama (1622-1689), a farmer from the village of Oberammergau in Bavaria, who is mentioned in the local parish records.

The HAMA surname continued to be present in Germany and neighboring regions throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, with individuals bearing this name appearing in various historical documents, including birth, marriage, and death records, as well as land registries and military records.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hama families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hama surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Devon leads with 1 Hamas recorded in 1881 and an index of 49.75x.

County Total Index
Devon 1 49.75x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. East Stonehouse in Devon leads with 1 Hamas recorded in 1881 and an index of 2500.00x.

Place Total Index
East Stonehouse 1 2500.00x

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Hama surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Phillip 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Hama households.

Occupation Count
Mate 1

FAQ

Hama surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hama surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Hama surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hama surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 165 in 2016. That gives Hama a modern rank of #22,234.

What does the Hama surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a hammer smith or metal worker.

What does the Hama map show?

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