NameCensus.

UK surname

Mulenga

A Zambian surname indicating an herbalist or traditional healer.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Trafford, Bassetlaw and Lewisham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mulenga is 224 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

224

2016, ranked #18,164

Peak year

2016

224 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 224 in 2016, ranked #18,164.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Mulenga surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mulenga surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mulenga 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 2 #34,436
1997 modern 59 #31,734
1998 modern 60 #31,931
1999 modern 58 #32,268
2000 modern 55 #32,609
2001 modern 49 #33,048
2002 modern 58 #32,564
2003 modern 72 #31,281
2004 modern 95 #28,746
2005 modern 112 #26,114
2006 modern 131 #23,942
2007 modern 151 #22,120
2008 modern 172 #20,523
2009 modern 192 #19,527
2010 modern 207 #19,007
2011 modern 191 #19,871
2012 modern 193 #19,665
2013 modern 203 #19,327
2014 modern 217 #18,645
2015 modern 217 #18,542
2016 modern 224 #18,164

Geography

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Where Mulengas 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 Trafford, Bassetlaw, Lewisham, Tower Hamlets and Wandsworth. 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 Trafford 005 Trafford
2 Bassetlaw 016 Bassetlaw
3 Lewisham 006 Lewisham
4 Tower Hamlets 015 Tower Hamlets
5 Wandsworth 016 Wandsworth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mulenga

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mulenga

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

Mulenga 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

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

Meaning and origin of Mulenga

The surname Mulenga is of Bantu origin, specifically from the Bemba people of Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is believed to have emerged during the 16th or 17th century in the region now known as the Northern Province of Zambia.

Mulenga is derived from the Bemba word "umulenge," which means "traveler" or "wanderer." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to individuals or families who were known for their travels or nomadic lifestyles.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Mulenga can be found in the 18th-century writings of Portuguese explorers and missionaries who encountered the Bemba people during their travels through the region.

In the 19th century, several notable individuals bearing the surname Mulenga emerged in Zambia. One example is Mulenga Sunkutu, a prominent chief of the Bemba people who played a significant role in the resistance against colonial rule in the late 1800s.

Another notable figure is Mulenga Kapwepwe, a Zambian politician and activist who was a key figure in the country's independence movement. He was born in 1915 and served as the first Vice President of Zambia after independence in 1964.

During the 20th century, the name Mulenga became more widely dispersed due to migration and urbanization. One prominent bearer of the name was Mulenga Mulemwa, a Zambian writer and scholar born in 1945 who made significant contributions to the study of Bemba literature and culture.

In more recent times, the name Mulenga has gained international recognition through individuals such as Mulenga Kampamba, a Zambian footballer who played for various clubs in Europe, including English Premier League teams in the early 2000s.

Another noteworthy figure is Mulenga Harangua, a Congolese-born musician and songwriter who has been influential in the development of Zambian and Congolese popular music since the late 20th century.

While the surname Mulenga has its roots in the Bemba people of Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, it has now spread to other parts of the world due to migration and cultural exchange.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Mulenga surname: questions and answers

How common is the Mulenga surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 224 in 2016. That gives Mulenga a modern rank of #18,164.

What does the Mulenga surname mean?

A Zambian surname indicating an herbalist or traditional healer.

What does the Mulenga map show?

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