UK surname

Kamara

A surname of West African origin, possibly derived from a word meaning "teacher" or "wise one" in the Mandinka language.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kamara is 2,282 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

Modern count

2,282

2016, ranked #2,845

Peak year

2016

2,282 bearers

Map years

1998 to 2016

Key insights

• The latest modern count shown here is 2,282 in 2016, ranked #2,845.
• Within the historical census years, the highest count was 9 in 1891.
• The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Map

Kamara surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kamara surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Year

Loading map

Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Kamara 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
1891	historical	9	#33,451
1911	historical	1	#34,332
1997	modern	742	#6,938
1998	modern	811	#6,680
1999	modern	866	#6,389
2000	modern	914	#6,113
2001	modern	957	#5,785
2002	modern	1,162	#5,049
2003	modern	1,261	#4,612
2004	modern	1,388	#4,255
2005	modern	1,536	#3,870
2006	modern	1,679	#3,582
2007	modern	1,787	#3,430
2008	modern	1,892	#3,287
2009	modern	2,038	#3,164
2010	modern	2,154	#3,071
2011	modern	2,082	#3,134
2012	modern	2,077	#3,084
2013	modern	2,172	#3,003
2014	modern	2,227	#2,951
2015	modern	2,249	#2,897
2016	modern	2,282	#2,845

Geography

Where Kamaras 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 Southwark. 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	Southwark 021	Southwark
2	Southwark 015	Southwark
3	Southwark 019	Southwark
4	Southwark 018	Southwark
5	Southwark 022	Southwark

Forenames

First names often paired with Kamara

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Recent female names

Fatmata Aminata Isatu Zainab Kadiatu Isha Mabinty Adama Mariama Marie

Recent male names

Mohamed Abdul Ibrahim Abu John Hassan David Mohammed Osman James

Modern profile

Neighbourhood profile for Kamara

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

Kamara 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.

Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kamara 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.

More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kamara 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.

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

Origin

Meaning and origin of Kamara

The surname Kamara has its origins in West Africa, particularly in the countries of Guinea, Mali, and Senegal. It is believed to have originated from the Mandinka language, spoken by the Mandinka people, who are primarily found in these regions.

Kamara is derived from the Mandinka word "kama," which means "traveler" or "stranger." This suggests that the name may have been given to individuals who were travelers or newcomers to a particular area. It is also possible that the name was initially used to identify someone who had a distinctive appearance or behavior that set them apart from the local population.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Kamara can be traced back to the 13th century in West African historical records and manuscripts. During this time, the region was home to several powerful empires, such as the Mali Empire and the Songhai Empire, which played a significant role in the spread of trade and cultural exchange across the continent.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name Kamara was Sundiata Keita, also known as Mari Djata or Lion Prince. He was a legendary ruler of the Mali Empire who lived from around 1190 to 1255 AD. His exploits and military victories are documented in the Epic of Sundiata, an oral tradition that has been passed down through generations.

Another notable figure with the surname Kamara was Abubakari Kamara II, who ruled the Imamate of Futa Jallon (present-day Guinea) from 1751 to 1758. He was a prominent military leader and played a crucial role in the expansion of the Imamate's territories.

In the 19th century, a number of individuals with the surname Kamara were involved in the resistance against French colonization in West Africa. One such figure was Samory Touré, also known as Samory Kamara, who was a military leader and the founder of the Wassoulou Empire (present-day Guinea and Mali). He fiercely resisted French conquest from 1882 until his capture in 1898.

During the 20th century, the surname Kamara continued to be prevalent in West Africa, and several notable individuals bore this name. For instance, Abdoulaye Kamara was a Malian politician and diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mali from 1966 to 1969.

Another prominent figure was Siriman Kamara, a Malian politician and diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mali from 1978 to 1982. She was also the first woman to hold this position in Mali.

While the surname Kamara has its roots in West Africa, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, the historical significance and cultural connections of this surname remain firmly rooted in the rich tapestry of West African history and traditions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Kamara surname: questions and answers

How common is the Kamara surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,282 in 2016. That gives Kamara a modern rank of #2,845.

What does the Kamara surname mean?