NameCensus.

UK surname

Jammeh

A surname of Gambian origin meaning "farmer" or "cultivator".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Greenwich, Crawley and Leeds.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Jammeh is 241 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

241

2016, ranked #17,233

Peak year

2016

241 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 241 in 2016, ranked #17,233.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Jammeh surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Jammeh surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Jammeh 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 5 #33,418
1997 modern 38 #33,872
1998 modern 30 #34,833
1999 modern 37 #34,248
2000 modern 45 #33,526
2001 modern 49 #33,048
2002 modern 82 #30,181
2003 modern 101 #27,561
2004 modern 118 #25,317
2005 modern 120 #25,066
2006 modern 131 #23,942
2007 modern 144 #22,804
2008 modern 165 #21,056
2009 modern 169 #21,190
2010 modern 207 #19,007
2011 modern 195 #19,610
2012 modern 201 #19,147
2013 modern 213 #18,743
2014 modern 228 #17,977
2015 modern 235 #17,530
2016 modern 241 #17,233

Geography

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Where Jammehs 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 Greenwich, Crawley, Leeds, Newham 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 Greenwich 007 Greenwich
2 Crawley 010 Crawley
3 Leeds 085 Leeds
4 Newham 018 Newham
5 Manchester 020 Manchester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Jammeh

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

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Jammeh is most associated with areas classed as Young Asian Family Terraces, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These households with dependent children typically live in terraced housing and are of (non-Chinese) Asian extraction. Individuals with Bangladeshi origins are particularly in evidence. Employment is often in elementary occupations or as process, plant or machine operatives, and part-time work is common. Students are much in evidence.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Jammeh 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

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

Meaning and origin of Jammeh

The surname Jammeh originates from The Gambia, a small West African country. It is believed to have originated in the late 15th century, possibly derived from the Mandinka word 'jam' meaning 'to be disciplined or obedient'. The name was initially concentrated in the regions around the Gambia River, particularly in the Lower River Region and Central River Region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Jammeh can be found in the 17th century archives of the Royal African Company, which was a English trading company operating along the Gambian coast. A trader named Alagie Jammeh is mentioned in a document from 1692, conducting business with the company's representatives.

During the 19th century, the name Jammeh appeared in various colonial records of The Gambia, which was then a British protectorate. In 1856, a man named Musa Jammeh was appointed as an interpreter and guide by the British administration, assisting in their interactions with local communities.

The first half of the 20th century saw the rise of several prominent individuals bearing the Jammeh surname. Alieu Jammeh (1901-1975) was a respected teacher and community leader who played a significant role in promoting education in The Gambia. Another notable figure was Bakary Jammeh (1912-1988), a prominent politician who served as a member of the Gambian House of Representatives.

One of the most well-known individuals with the surname Jammeh is Yahya Jammeh, the former President of The Gambia. Born in 1965, he ruled the country from 1994 to 2017, after seizing power in a military coup. His presidency was marked by allegations of human rights abuses and authoritarian rule.

Other notable individuals with the Jammeh surname include Isatou Jammeh (born 1976), a Gambian activist and women's rights advocate, and Lamin Jammeh (born 1978), a former professional footballer who played for various clubs in Europe and represented The Gambia national team.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Jammeh surname: questions and answers

How common is the Jammeh surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 241 in 2016. That gives Jammeh a modern rank of #17,233.

What does the Jammeh surname mean?

A surname of Gambian origin meaning "farmer" or "cultivator".

What does the Jammeh map show?

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