NameCensus.

UK surname

Ncube

A surname of Ndebele origin meaning "cube" or "calabash".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Southend-on-Sea, Leicester and Wolverhampton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ncube is 1,372 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

1,372

2016, ranked #4,397

Peak year

2016

1,372 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,372 in 2016, ranked #4,397.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Ncube surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ncube surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ncube 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 48 #32,878
1998 modern 63 #31,639
1999 modern 80 #30,152
2000 modern 119 #25,072
2001 modern 139 #22,541
2002 modern 293 #14,203
2003 modern 409 #11,088
2004 modern 553 #8,823
2005 modern 666 #7,643
2006 modern 802 #6,613
2007 modern 878 #6,211
2008 modern 962 #5,823
2009 modern 1,101 #5,315
2010 modern 1,194 #5,065
2011 modern 1,179 #5,062
2012 modern 1,258 #4,705
2013 modern 1,291 #4,680
2014 modern 1,335 #4,566
2015 modern 1,345 #4,500
2016 modern 1,372 #4,397

Geography

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Where Ncubes 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 Southend-on-Sea, Leicester and Wolverhampton. 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 Southend-on-Sea 014 Southend-on-Sea
2 Southend-on-Sea 015 Southend-on-Sea
3 Leicester 004 Leicester
4 Wolverhampton 035 Wolverhampton
5 Southend-on-Sea 013 Southend-on-Sea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ncube

These lists show first names that appear often with the Ncube 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 Ncube

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

Ncube 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

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

Meaning and origin of Ncube

The surname Ncube is of Zimbabwean origin, originating from the Ndebele people. It is believed to have emerged around the 15th century, during the period of the Ndebele Kingdom in present-day Zimbabwe.

The name Ncube is derived from the Ndebele word "incube," which means "a square hut" or "a square house." This suggests that the name may have initially been associated with individuals who lived in or built square-shaped huts or dwellings.

Early records of the Ncube name can be traced back to the 16th century, when the Ndebele people migrated from the present-day KwaZulu-Natal region in South Africa to the southwestern part of present-day Zimbabwe. The name is found in several historical accounts and manuscripts documenting the Ndebele people's history and traditions.

One notable historical figure with the surname Ncube is Mzilikazi, the founder of the Ndebele Kingdom. He was born around 1790 and led the Ndebele people to their new homeland in the territory that would later become known as Zimbabwe.

Another prominent individual bearing the Ncube name is Dr. Joshua Nkomo, a renowned Zimbabwean nationalist and politician. He was born in 1917 and played a crucial role in the struggle for independence from colonial rule, later becoming the first Vice President of independent Zimbabwe.

Ndabaningi Ncube, born in 1915, was a prominent figure in the Zimbabwean liberation movement. He served as the Secretary-General of the African National Congress of Rhodesia and was a vocal advocate for the rights of the African population during the colonial era.

Welshman Ncube, born in 1960, is a prominent Zimbabwean politician and lawyer. He served as the Secretary-General of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and later formed his own political party, the Movement for Democratic Change - Ncube.

Sibusiso Ncube, born in 1984, is a Zimbabwean cricketer who has represented the national team in both Test and One Day International matches. He is known for his impressive performances as a right-arm fast-medium bowler.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Ncube surname: questions and answers

How common is the Ncube surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,372 in 2016. That gives Ncube a modern rank of #4,397.

What does the Ncube surname mean?

A surname of Ndebele origin meaning "cube" or "calabash".

What does the Ncube map show?

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