NameCensus.

UK surname

Ndiaye

A Senegalese surname indicating the person is of royal descent from the Wolof and Serer ethnic groups.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ndiaye is 149 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

149

2016, ranked #23,844

Peak year

2016

149 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 149 in 2016, ranked #23,844.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Ndiaye surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ndiaye surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ndiaye 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 8 #37,372
1998 modern 11 #36,908
1999 modern 20 #35,923
2000 modern 20 #35,915
2001 modern 21 #35,646
2002 modern 25 #35,428
2003 modern 32 #34,862
2004 modern 42 #34,222
2005 modern 44 #34,255
2006 modern 58 #33,433
2007 modern 63 #33,243
2008 modern 72 #32,656
2009 modern 89 #31,235
2010 modern 109 #28,831
2011 modern 94 #31,016
2012 modern 111 #28,332
2013 modern 115 #28,176
2014 modern 135 #25,581
2015 modern 140 #24,836
2016 modern 149 #23,844

Geography

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Where Ndiayes 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 Southwark, Leeds, Northumberland, Haringey 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 Southwark 022 Southwark
2 Leeds 064 Leeds
3 Northumberland 039 Northumberland
4 Haringey 015 Haringey
5 Lewisham 012 Lewisham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ndiaye

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ndiaye

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

Ndiaye 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

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

Meaning and origin of Ndiaye

The surname Ndiaye originates from Senegal in West Africa. It is one of the most common surnames among the Wolof people, an ethnic group native to Senegal and parts of neighboring countries. The name is believed to have derived from the Wolof word "ndiay," which means "to gather" or "to bring together."

Historically, the Ndiaye surname can be traced back to the 13th century, when the Wolof kingdom of Jolof (also spelled Djolof or Jollof) was a prominent regional power in Senegal. Some records suggest that the name may have initially referred to a specific lineage or clan within the Wolof nobility or ruling class.

One of the earliest documented references to the Ndiaye name can be found in the writings of medieval Arab scholars and travelers, who visited the region and documented the Wolof people and their customs. For instance, the 14th-century Moroccan scholar Ibn Battuta mentioned encountering a Wolof leader named Ndiaye during his travels through West Africa.

Throughout the centuries, the Ndiaye surname has been associated with several notable figures in Senegalese and West African history. One such figure was Ndiaye Mbar, a prominent Wolof leader and military commander in the late 16th century, who played a significant role in defending the Jolof kingdom against Portuguese invaders.

Another notable Ndiaye was El Hadj Oumar Tall (1797-1864), a Toucouleur (Fulani) religious and military leader who established the Toucouleur Empire in present-day Mali and Senegal. His mother, Penda Ndiaye, was from a prominent Wolof family, which likely influenced his name.

In more recent history, Lamine Ndiaye (1958-2007) was a renowned Senegalese writer, playwright, and actor, known for his contributions to the promotion of Wolof culture and literature. He was a recipient of the Grand Prix des Muses, one of the highest literary honors in Francophone Africa.

Abdoulaye Ndiaye (1931-2018) was a Senegalese politician and diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and later as the Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity (now the African Union) from 1985 to 1989.

Marie Ndiaye (born 1967) is a French novelist and playwright of Senegalese descent, who won the prestigious Prix Goncourt in 2009 for her novel "Trois femmes puissantes" (Three Powerful Women).

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Ndiaye surname: questions and answers

How common is the Ndiaye surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 149 in 2016. That gives Ndiaye a modern rank of #23,844.

What does the Ndiaye surname mean?

A Senegalese surname indicating the person is of royal descent from the Wolof and Serer ethnic groups.

What does the Ndiaye map show?

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