NameCensus.

UK surname

Macharia

A surname originating from the Kikuyu people of Kenya, likely derived from the word "mûcharia" meaning "one who brings home cattle."

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Macharia is 128 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

128

2016, ranked #26,401

Peak year

2016

128 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 128 in 2016, ranked #26,401.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 9 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Macharia surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Macharia surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Macharia 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 5 #33,418
1891 historical 9 #33,451
1997 modern 29 #34,795
1998 modern 39 #33,967
1999 modern 38 #34,142
2000 modern 51 #32,999
2001 modern 52 #32,764
2002 modern 63 #32,113
2003 modern 75 #30,994
2004 modern 80 #30,679
2005 modern 93 #29,133
2006 modern 101 #28,125
2007 modern 101 #28,505
2008 modern 97 #29,527
2009 modern 109 #28,145
2010 modern 115 #27,874
2011 modern 113 #27,967
2012 modern 119 #27,100
2013 modern 118 #27,686
2014 modern 115 #28,439
2015 modern 121 #27,405
2016 modern 128 #26,401

Geography

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Where Macharias 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 Wandsworth, Southwark, Barking and Dagenham and Lewisham. 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 Wandsworth 037 Wandsworth
2 Southwark 032 Southwark
3 Southwark 022 Southwark
4 Barking and Dagenham 002 Barking and Dagenham
5 Lewisham 002 Lewisham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Macharia

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Macharia

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Macharia 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

Macharia 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

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

Meaning and origin of Macharia

The surname Macharia is of Kenyan origin, originating from the Kikuyu tribe. It first emerged in the late 18th century, derived from the Kikuyu word "macharia," which means "one who rises early." This name was likely given to individuals who were known for their diligent and hardworking nature, as they would wake up early to tend to their daily tasks.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Macharia can be found in historical documents and records from the colonial era in Kenya. One notable example is John Macharia, a prominent Kikuyu chief who lived in the late 19th century and played a significant role in negotiating with British colonial authorities during the establishment of the British East Africa Protectorate.

Another historical figure with the surname Macharia is Jomo Macharia, a Kenyan freedom fighter and activist who participated in the Mau Mau uprising against British colonial rule in the 1950s. He was born in 1920 and spent several years in detention camps during the uprising.

In the 20th century, the name Macharia became more widely recognized with the rise of Dr. John Njoroge Michuki, a prominent Kenyan politician and former Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. Born in 1932, Michuki played a significant role in Kenya's political landscape and was known for his efforts in environmental conservation and anti-corruption initiatives.

Other notable individuals with the surname Macharia include Joseph Macharia, a Kenyan businessman and philanthropist who founded the Macharia Education Trust, a non-profit organization that provides educational opportunities to underprivileged children in Kenya. He was born in 1945 and has been recognized for his philanthropic efforts.

William Macharia, a Kenyan entrepreneur and co-founder of the Royal Media Services, one of the largest media conglomerates in East Africa, is another prominent figure with this surname. Born in 1960, he has made significant contributions to the media industry in Kenya and the region.

While the surname Macharia is predominantly found in Kenya, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins and historical significance remain deeply rooted in the Kikuyu culture and the rich heritage of Kenya.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Macharia surname: questions and answers

How common is the Macharia surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 128 in 2016. That gives Macharia a modern rank of #26,401.

What does the Macharia surname mean?

A surname originating from the Kikuyu people of Kenya, likely derived from the word "mûcharia" meaning "one who brings home cattle."

What does the Macharia map show?

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