NameCensus.

UK surname

Kargbo

A surname of West African origin, likely referring to a village or place name.

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 Kargbo is 412 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

412

2016, ranked #11,627

Peak year

2016

412 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 412 in 2016, ranked #11,627.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Kargbo surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kargbo surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kargbo 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
1997 modern 114 #24,967
1998 modern 123 #24,449
1999 modern 134 #23,378
2000 modern 140 #22,752
2001 modern 144 #22,040
2002 modern 188 #19,012
2003 modern 203 #17,967
2004 modern 232 #16,539
2005 modern 260 #15,250
2006 modern 282 #14,459
2007 modern 290 #14,372
2008 modern 299 #14,177
2009 modern 324 #13,689
2010 modern 348 #13,304
2011 modern 343 #13,277
2012 modern 353 #12,877
2013 modern 384 #12,295
2014 modern 402 #11,949
2015 modern 408 #11,737
2016 modern 412 #11,627

Geography

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Where Kargbos 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 016 Southwark
3 Southwark 019 Southwark
4 Southwark 020 Southwark
5 Southwark 018 Southwark

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kargbo

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kargbo

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

Kargbo 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

Kargbo falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kargbo 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.

7
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 Kargbo, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Kargbo

The surname Kargbo has its origins in Sierra Leone, West Africa, dating back to the 18th century. It is believed to be derived from the Temne word "kar-gbo," which translates to "town guard" or "village sentry." This suggests that the name may have originally been associated with individuals who held positions of authority and responsibility within their communities.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Kargbo can be found in colonial records from the British Empire's presence in Sierra Leone during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. These records often referred to individuals with the surname as local chiefs, interpreters, or intermediaries between the colonial authorities and the indigenous population.

One notable figure from this period was Chief Kargbo of the Loko people, who played a significant role in negotiating treaties and land agreements with the British in the early 1800s. His influence and leadership during this turbulent era earned him a respected place in the history of Sierra Leone.

As the name spread through generations, it became more widely distributed across various regions of Sierra Leone. In the late 19th century, the Kargbo family established a prominent presence in the Northern Province, particularly in the town of Kamabai.

During the 20th century, several individuals with the Kargbo surname achieved notable positions and made significant contributions to Sierra Leonean society. Among them was Edward Kargbo (1910-1989), a prominent educator and politician who served as the Minister of Education and Cultural Affairs in the 1960s.

Another prominent figure was Dr. Santigie Kargbo (1936-2021), a renowned medical doctor and public health expert who played a crucial role in Sierra Leone's healthcare system, serving as the Minister of Health and Sanitation from 1996 to 2002.

In the field of literature, Syl Cheney-Coker (née Kargbo) (1945-2021) was a celebrated Sierra Leonean poet, novelist, and scholar whose works explored themes of identity, culture, and the human condition.

While the Kargbo surname has its roots in Sierra Leone, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. Individuals bearing this name can be found in various countries, carrying with them the rich cultural heritage and historical significance of their ancestral lineage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Kargbo surname: questions and answers

How common is the Kargbo surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 412 in 2016. That gives Kargbo a modern rank of #11,627.

What does the Kargbo surname mean?

A surname of West African origin, likely referring to a village or place name.

What does the Kargbo map show?

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