NameCensus.

UK surname

Matovu

A surname originating from Uganda, meaning "powerful" or "victorious".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Merton, Barnet and Bromley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Matovu 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

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 133 in 2016, ranked #25,765.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Matovu surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Matovu surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Matovu 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 52 #32,444
1998 modern 53 #32,633
1999 modern 61 #31,971
2000 modern 65 #31,641
2001 modern 68 #31,195
2002 modern 81 #30,294
2003 modern 78 #30,654
2004 modern 85 #30,132
2005 modern 92 #29,271
2006 modern 101 #28,125
2007 modern 112 #26,800
2008 modern 115 #26,635
2009 modern 120 #26,496
2010 modern 125 #26,448
2011 modern 121 #26,789
2012 modern 127 #25,992
2013 modern 128 #26,336
2014 modern 131 #26,089
2015 modern 131 #25,979
2016 modern 133 #25,765

Geography

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Where Matovus 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 Merton, Barnet, Bromley, Crawley and Croydon. 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 Merton 013 Merton
2 Barnet 020 Barnet
3 Bromley 009 Bromley
4 Crawley 012 Crawley
5 Croydon 006 Croydon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Matovu

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Matovu

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

Matovu 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

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

Meaning and origin of Matovu

The surname Matovu has its origins in Uganda, a country located in East Africa. It is believed to have originated in the early 19th century, derived from the Luganda language spoken by the Baganda people.

In Luganda, the word "matovu" is said to mean "the wealthy one" or "the prosperous one." This suggests that the name may have been initially bestowed upon individuals or families who held considerable wealth or status within their communities.

Historical records from the region indicate that the Matovu surname first appeared in written documents during the reign of Kabaka (King) Suna II, who ruled the Buganda Kingdom from 1824 to 1856. Several notable figures bearing the name Matovu are mentioned in these records, including Matovu Mukasa, a prominent chief and advisor to the king.

During the late 19th century, as the influence of the British Empire spread across Uganda, the Matovu surname began to appear in colonial administrative records and census documents. One significant figure from this period was John Matovu (1865-1925), a prominent Protestant missionary and teacher who played a vital role in establishing Christian education in Uganda.

In the early 20th century, the Matovu name gained further recognition with the birth of Yozefu Matovu (1910-1987), a renowned Ugandan composer and musician who contributed significantly to the development of traditional Kiganda music.

Another notable individual with the surname Matovu was Sarah Matovu (1920-2003), a pioneering Ugandan politician and women's rights activist. She was the first woman to be elected to the National Assembly of Uganda in 1962 and played a pivotal role in advocating for women's empowerment and gender equality.

More recently, the Matovu surname has been associated with prominent figures such as Emmanuel Matovu (born 1962), a Ugandan economist and former Executive Director of the African Development Bank Group.

Throughout its history, the Matovu surname has maintained a strong connection to its Luganda roots and the cultural heritage of the Baganda people. While its origins can be traced back to the early 19th century, the name continues to be widely used and respected in Uganda and among Ugandan communities around the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Matovu surname: questions and answers

How common is the Matovu surname today?

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

What does the Matovu surname mean?

A surname originating from Uganda, meaning "powerful" or "victorious".

What does the Matovu map show?

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