NameCensus.

UK surname

Jama

A Slovenian habitational surname derived from the dialect word jama, meaning "cave" or "pit."

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Liverpool, Cardiff and Sheffield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Jama is 1,904 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

1,904

2016, ranked #3,338

Peak year

2016

1,904 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,904 in 2016, ranked #3,338.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 16 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Jama surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Jama surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Jama 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 16 #31,832
1891 historical 4 #34,098
1911 historical 2 #34,020
1997 modern 337 #12,522
1998 modern 360 #12,300
1999 modern 407 #11,305
2000 modern 445 #10,539
2001 modern 460 #10,063
2002 modern 606 #8,401
2003 modern 658 #7,764
2004 modern 802 #6,658
2005 modern 912 #5,962
2006 modern 1,105 #5,121
2007 modern 1,198 #4,821
2008 modern 1,273 #4,592
2009 modern 1,383 #4,371
2010 modern 1,569 #4,028
2011 modern 1,592 #3,925
2012 modern 1,694 #3,658
2013 modern 1,806 #3,526
2014 modern 1,870 #3,444
2015 modern 1,896 #3,370
2016 modern 1,904 #3,338

Geography

Back to top

Where Jamas 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 Liverpool, Cardiff, Sheffield and Manchester. 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 Liverpool 039 Liverpool
2 Cardiff 049 Cardiff
3 Sheffield 022 Sheffield
4 Sheffield 074 Sheffield
5 Manchester 024 Manchester

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Jama

These lists show first names that appear often with the Jama 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 Jama

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

Jama 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

Jama 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 Jama is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

7
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 Jama, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Jama

The surname JAMA has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the northern regions of the country. It is believed to have originated during the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word "Jama," which means "twin" or "pair."

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname JAMA can be found in ancient Hindu texts and manuscripts from the region. The name is often associated with the warrior class or the Kshatriya caste in India. It is possible that the name was initially given to twins born into this caste, or to individuals who had a twin sibling.

In the 16th century, records from the Mughal Empire indicate the presence of individuals bearing the surname JAMA, particularly in the northern states of India. During this time, the name was also adopted by Muslim families, potentially due to intermarriages or cultural assimilation.

One notable individual with the surname JAMA was Mir Jama, a influential poet and scholar who lived in the 17th century. His works were widely celebrated and contributed to the rich literary tradition of the region.

Another prominent figure was Jama Khan, a military commander who served under the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in the late 17th century. He was known for his bravery and strategic skills on the battlefield.

Moving forward to the 19th century, Sir Jama Nath Mookerjee was a distinguished Indian lawyer and politician who played a significant role in the Indian independence movement. He was born in 1847 and served as the president of the Indian National Congress in 1899.

In more recent times, Mushtaq Ahmed Jama was a Somali politician and diplomat who served as the Prime Minister of Somalia from 1967 to 1969. He was born in 1922 and played a crucial role in the political landscape of his country.

Another noteworthy individual with the surname JAMA was Umma Kulthum Jama, a renowned Somali singer and songwriter who was born in 1958. Her music celebrated Somali culture and tradition, and she gained widespread recognition both within Somalia and internationally.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Jama surname: questions and answers

How common is the Jama surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,904 in 2016. That gives Jama a modern rank of #3,338.

What does the Jama surname mean?

A Slovenian habitational surname derived from the dialect word jama, meaning "cave" or "pit."

What does the Jama map show?

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