NameCensus.

UK surname

Jawara

A Gambian surname meaning "griot" or "storyteller/historian".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mid Sussex, Waltham Forest and Watford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Jawara is 133 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

133

2016, ranked #25,765

Peak year

2016

133 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 133 in 2016, ranked #25,765.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Jawara surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Jawara surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Jawara 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
1891 historical 5 #33,939
1997 modern 30 #34,701
1998 modern 37 #34,149
1999 modern 45 #33,511
2000 modern 41 #33,889
2001 modern 41 #33,753
2002 modern 51 #33,193
2003 modern 56 #32,797
2004 modern 65 #32,177
2005 modern 67 #32,196
2006 modern 64 #32,839
2007 modern 75 #32,079
2008 modern 80 #31,833
2009 modern 100 #29,597
2010 modern 102 #29,930
2011 modern 99 #30,218
2012 modern 111 #28,332
2013 modern 114 #28,347
2014 modern 125 #26,896
2015 modern 130 #26,093
2016 modern 133 #25,765

Geography

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Where Jawaras 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 Mid Sussex, Waltham Forest, Watford, Greenwich and Luton. 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 Mid Sussex 008 Mid Sussex
2 Waltham Forest 026 Waltham Forest
3 Watford 011 Watford
4 Greenwich 011 Greenwich
5 Luton 003 Luton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Jawara

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Jawara

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Jawara is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Jawara 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

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

Meaning and origin of Jawara

The surname "JAWARA" originates from West Africa, particularly in the Mandinka ethnic group of The Gambia and Senegal. Its earliest known usage can be traced back to the late 15th century during the Mali Empire's expansion into the region.

"JAWARA" is derived from the Mandinka word "jawara," which translates to "wrestler" or "one who grapples." This connection suggests that the name may have initially been used to denote individuals who were skilled in the traditional West African wrestling sport, which held significant cultural importance.

Historical records indicate that the name "JAWARA" appeared in several ancient manuscripts and chronicles documenting the Mali Empire's conquest of the Gambian territories. One notable example is the "Tārīkh al-fattāsh" (Chronicle of the Seeker), written by the renowned Timbuktu scholar Mahmoud Kati in the early 17th century.

The earliest recorded bearer of the "JAWARA" surname was Sanjang Jawara, a prominent wrestler and military commander who served under the Malian ruler Sundiata Keita in the early 13th century. Sanjang Jawara played a crucial role in the Battle of Kirina, which solidified the Mali Empire's control over the region.

Another historical figure with the "JAWARA" surname was Mamadu Jawara, a respected Islamic scholar and diplomat who lived in the late 16th century. Mamadu Jawara was instrumental in facilitating trade and cultural exchanges between the Mali Empire and the Portuguese settlements along the West African coast.

In the 19th century, Mussa Jawara, a renowned Mandinka chief and military leader, gained prominence for his resistance against French colonial expansion in present-day Senegal. His exploits were documented in various European accounts of the time.

During the 20th century, several individuals bearing the "JAWARA" surname made significant contributions to the independence movements and post-colonial governance of The Gambia and Senegal. One notable figure was Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, who served as the first Prime Minister and later President of The Gambia from 1962 to 1994.

Throughout its history, the surname "JAWARA" has been associated with various place names and older spellings, such as "Jawarah," "Jawarey," and "Jauaray," reflecting the linguistic diversity and regional variations within West Africa.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Jawara surname: questions and answers

How common is the Jawara surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 133 in 2016. That gives Jawara a modern rank of #25,765.

What does the Jawara surname mean?

A Gambian surname meaning "griot" or "storyteller/historian".

What does the Jawara map show?

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