NameCensus.

UK surname

Janneh

A surname of Gambian origin meaning "born on a Friday."

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Janneh is 143 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

143

2016, ranked #24,505

Peak year

2016

143 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 143 in 2016, ranked #24,505.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Janneh surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Janneh surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Janneh 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 1 #34,435
1997 modern 49 #32,776
1998 modern 57 #32,226
1999 modern 55 #32,561
2000 modern 59 #32,217
2001 modern 57 #32,275
2002 modern 75 #30,950
2003 modern 80 #30,425
2004 modern 89 #29,623
2005 modern 80 #30,842
2006 modern 87 #30,292
2007 modern 100 #28,669
2008 modern 98 #29,355
2009 modern 124 #25,957
2010 modern 124 #26,582
2011 modern 118 #27,192
2012 modern 119 #27,100
2013 modern 130 #26,074
2014 modern 137 #25,345
2015 modern 138 #25,103
2016 modern 143 #24,505

Geography

Back to top

Where Jannehs 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 Hackney, Birmingham, Haringey, Wiltshire and Newham. 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 Hackney 002 Hackney
2 Birmingham 031 Birmingham
3 Haringey 006 Haringey
4 Wiltshire 037 Wiltshire
5 Newham 008 Newham

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Janneh

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

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Janneh surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Janneh 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 includes many younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Janneh 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

Janneh 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

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

Meaning and origin of Janneh

The surname Janneh has its origins in the Gambia, a small West African country. It is believed to have originated from the Mandinka people, one of the largest ethnic groups in the region. The name is thought to be derived from the Mandinka word "janneh," which means "born on Friday."

The earliest recorded instances of the name Janneh can be traced back to the 16th century, when it appeared in local records and documents. During this time period, the Gambia was a major trading hub for the trans-Saharan trade routes, and the name Janneh may have been associated with families involved in this commerce.

In the 18th century, the Janneh name is found in records related to the establishment of the British colony of Bathurst (now Banjul), the capital of the Gambia. Some notable individuals from this era include Alhaji Alieu Janneh, a prominent merchant and landowner in the early 1800s, and Alhaji Sulayman Janneh, a respected religious leader and scholar in the mid-1800s.

As the Gambia became a British protectorate in the late 19th century, the Janneh name gained wider recognition. One notable figure was Sir Dawda Kairaba Janneh, a prominent politician and civil servant who played a crucial role in the country's transition to independence in the 1960s. He served as the first Minister of Education and Minister of Finance in the independent Gambia.

Another renowned individual was Dr. Lenrie Janneh, a prominent economist and international civil servant. He served as the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa from 2005 to 2012, and was widely respected for his contributions to economic development and regional integration in Africa.

Over the centuries, the Janneh name has also been associated with various place names in the Gambia, such as Janneh Kunda (a village) and Janneh Bureh (a historical town). These place names reflect the presence and influence of the Janneh family in different parts of the country.

While the Janneh surname originated in the Gambia, it has since spread to other parts of West Africa and beyond, carried by migration and diaspora communities. Despite its global reach, the name remains firmly rooted in its Mandinka and Gambian heritage, serving as a testament to the rich cultural and historical legacy of the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Janneh surname: questions and answers

How common is the Janneh surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 143 in 2016. That gives Janneh a modern rank of #24,505.

What does the Janneh surname mean?

A surname of Gambian origin meaning "born on a Friday."

What does the Janneh map show?

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