NameCensus.

UK surname

Kabia

An Arabic surname potentially meaning 'great' or 'large'.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lewisham, Southwark and Hammersmith and Fulham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kabia is 166 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

166

2016, ranked #22,140

Peak year

2016

166 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 166 in 2016, ranked #22,140.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Kabia surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kabia surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kabia 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 2 #34,436
1997 modern 85 #28,988
1998 modern 74 #30,562
1999 modern 77 #30,427
2000 modern 70 #31,180
2001 modern 72 #30,813
2002 modern 91 #29,181
2003 modern 107 #26,617
2004 modern 118 #25,317
2005 modern 122 #24,817
2006 modern 124 #24,750
2007 modern 140 #23,231
2008 modern 138 #23,763
2009 modern 150 #22,937
2010 modern 163 #22,205
2011 modern 157 #22,574
2012 modern 154 #22,870
2013 modern 159 #22,706
2014 modern 156 #23,231
2015 modern 153 #23,413
2016 modern 166 #22,140

Geography

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Where Kabias 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 Lewisham, Southwark, Hammersmith and Fulham and Haringey. 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 Lewisham 039 Lewisham
2 Southwark 021 Southwark
3 Southwark 022 Southwark
4 Hammersmith and Fulham 015 Hammersmith and Fulham
5 Haringey 015 Haringey

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kabia

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kabia

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Kabia, 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 Kabia surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Kabia 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, Kabia 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

Kabia 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

Kabia 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 Kabia is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Black - African

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

Meaning and origin of Kabia

The surname KABIA originates from the Punjab region of South Asia, with roots dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Sanskrit word 'kabi,' meaning poet or scholar. The name was initially associated with families who were revered for their literary and scholarly pursuits.

During the Mughal Empire, which ruled over much of the Indian subcontinent from the 16th to the 19th century, the KABIA name appeared in various historical records and manuscripts. One notable mention was in the imperial court chronicles of Akbar the Great, where a renowned poet and philosopher named Kabir KABIA was documented as a trusted advisor to the emperor.

The earliest recorded instance of the KABIA surname can be traced back to a manuscript dated 1562, which detailed the accounts of a prominent merchant family hailing from the city of Lahore, now in modern-day Pakistan. This document referred to the head of the household as Amir KABIA, suggesting the surname's widespread use among the region's elite.

As the KABIA family lineage expanded, they established roots in various parts of Punjab, with some branches settling in the city of Amritsar, which is renowned for its rich cultural and religious heritage. One notable figure from this era was Guru Arjan Dev KABIA (1563-1606), the fifth Sikh Guru, who played a pivotal role in the compilation of the Adi Granth, the sacred scripture of Sikhism.

During the British Raj in the 19th century, the KABIA name gained further prominence, with several individuals holding influential positions within the colonial administration. One such figure was Sir Ranjit KABIA (1872-1944), a distinguished civil servant who served as the Chief Secretary of Punjab and was instrumental in establishing various educational institutions in the region.

Another renowned KABIA was Amrita KABIA (1913-1988), a celebrated poet and novelist who gained international acclaim for her literary works, which explored themes of feminism, spirituality, and the human condition. Her seminal work, "The Serpent and the Rope," published in 1960, is considered a masterpiece of 20th-century Indian literature.

Throughout history, the KABIA surname has been associated with a rich legacy of scholarship, literary excellence, and cultural contributions, reflecting the name's origins as a designation for poets and learned individuals in the Punjab region of South Asia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Kabia surname: questions and answers

How common is the Kabia surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 166 in 2016. That gives Kabia a modern rank of #22,140.

What does the Kabia surname mean?

An Arabic surname potentially meaning 'great' or 'large'.

What does the Kabia map show?

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