NameCensus.

UK surname

Mbye

A surname derived from the Akan name Mbya, meaning "born on Thursday".

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mbye is 126 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

126

2016, ranked #26,686

Peak year

2016

126 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 126 in 2016, ranked #26,686.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Mbye surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mbye surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mbye 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 23 #35,484
1998 modern 28 #35,053
1999 modern 28 #35,127
2000 modern 34 #34,517
2001 modern 36 #34,171
2002 modern 51 #33,193
2003 modern 49 #33,456
2004 modern 60 #32,684
2005 modern 63 #32,602
2006 modern 78 #31,385
2007 modern 85 #30,954
2008 modern 95 #29,822
2009 modern 107 #28,483
2010 modern 109 #28,831
2011 modern 98 #30,384
2012 modern 111 #28,332
2013 modern 113 #28,502
2014 modern 120 #27,646
2015 modern 118 #27,833
2016 modern 126 #26,686

Geography

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Where Mbyes 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 Birmingham and Bristol. 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 Birmingham 043 Birmingham
2 Bristol 055 Bristol, City of
3 Birmingham 050 Birmingham
4 Birmingham 052 Birmingham
5 Birmingham 070 Birmingham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mbye

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mbye

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

Mbye 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

Mbye falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mbye 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 Mbye, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mbye

The surname "MBYE" originates from the West African country of Senegal, where it first appeared in the late 15th century. It is believed to have derived from the Wolof language, one of the most widely spoken languages in Senegal, and may have been a variation of the word "mbye," meaning "wise" or "knowledgeable."

In the early 16th century, the name appeared in several historical records and documents in the region, including local administrative records and trade documents. One of the earliest known references to the name "MBYE" was found in a manuscript dated 1527, which documented a trade agreement between local merchants and Portuguese traders.

The first recorded individual with the surname "MBYE" was Boubacar MBYE, a prominent merchant and trader who lived in the city of Saint-Louis, Senegal, in the late 16th century. Another notable figure was Fatima MBYE, a respected scholar and teacher who lived in the village of Mbour, Senegal, in the mid-17th century.

As the name spread across West Africa, it gained recognition and prominence. In the 18th century, Amadou MBYE was a well-known Islamic scholar and teacher who authored several works on religious texts and teachings. His works were widely studied and referenced throughout the region.

During the 19th century, the name "MBYE" appeared in various historical documents and records related to the colonial period in Senegal. One notable figure was Cheikh Anta MBYE, a leader of the Sufi brotherhood who played a significant role in the resistance against French colonial rule in the late 19th century.

Another prominent individual with the surname "MBYE" was Aline MBYE (1890-1978), a pioneering Senegalese feminist and activist who fought for women's rights and education. She founded several schools and organizations dedicated to empowering women and promoting their social and economic advancement.

While the surname "MBYE" has its roots in Senegal, it has since spread to other parts of West Africa and beyond, carried by individuals and families who have migrated or descended from ancestors who bore this name. Throughout its history, the name "MBYE" has been associated with wisdom, knowledge, and a rich cultural heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Mbye surname: questions and answers

How common is the Mbye surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 126 in 2016. That gives Mbye a modern rank of #26,686.

What does the Mbye surname mean?

A surname derived from the Akan name Mbya, meaning "born on Thursday".

What does the Mbye map show?

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