NameCensus.

UK surname

Ngoma

A surname of African origin meaning drum or percussion instrument.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Havering, Lambeth and Carmarthenshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ngoma is 167 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

167

2016, ranked #22,055

Peak year

2016

167 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 167 in 2016, ranked #22,055.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Ngoma surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ngoma surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ngoma 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 16 #36,292
1998 modern 22 #35,687
1999 modern 22 #35,725
2000 modern 24 #35,498
2001 modern 22 #35,531
2002 modern 48 #33,459
2003 modern 60 #32,446
2004 modern 66 #32,079
2005 modern 64 #32,482
2006 modern 84 #30,665
2007 modern 90 #30,228
2008 modern 104 #28,341
2009 modern 115 #27,207
2010 modern 135 #25,127
2011 modern 143 #24,056
2012 modern 151 #23,166
2013 modern 149 #23,765
2014 modern 155 #23,333
2015 modern 160 #22,701
2016 modern 167 #22,055

Geography

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Where Ngomas 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 Havering, Lambeth, Carmarthenshire, Enfield 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 Havering 028 Havering
2 Lambeth 032 Lambeth
3 Carmarthenshire 007 Carmarthenshire
4 Enfield 023 Enfield
5 Croydon 007 Croydon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ngoma

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ngoma

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

Ngoma 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

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

Meaning and origin of Ngoma

The surname "NGOMA" has its origins in the Bantu languages of Central and Southern Africa, particularly in modern-day Democratic Republic of the Congo and surrounding regions. It is believed to have emerged during the late medieval period, around the 15th or 16th century.

The word "ngoma" in various Bantu languages refers to a traditional drum or percussion instrument, which played a significant role in cultural ceremonies, celebrations, and communication among various ethnic groups. It is likely that the surname was initially adopted by individuals or families closely associated with the art of drumming or music-making.

Historical records from the region are scarce, but some early references to individuals bearing the surname "NGOMA" can be found in oral traditions and local genealogies. One notable figure was Ngoma Lubanza, a renowned drummer and oral historian who lived in the late 16th century in the Kingdom of Kongo, a powerful central African empire at the time.

In the 17th century, the surname appears in Portuguese colonial records from Angola, where it was sometimes spelled as "Ngomba" or "Ngombe." This variation likely stemmed from the Portuguese adaptation of the Bantu word. During this period, a prominent figure named Ngoma Mubiri gained recognition as a skilled negotiator and diplomat between the Kingdom of Kongo and the Portuguese colonial authorities.

As the centuries progressed, the surname "NGOMA" spread across various regions of Central and Southern Africa, carried by individuals and families migrating or establishing new settlements. One notable bearer of the name was Ngoma Kia-Kanga, a respected chief and community leader in the Luba Kingdom (present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo) in the early 19th century.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, several individuals with the surname "NGOMA" gained prominence in various fields. Ngoma Mpongo was a renowned artist and sculptor from the Kongo region, whose works are now preserved in museums across the world. Ngoma Mwana-Nkinga was a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights in colonial Belgian Congo during the early 20th century.

Another notable figure was Ngoma Luaba, a respected elder and spiritual leader among the Luba people in the 1920s and 1930s, known for his extensive knowledge of traditional customs and rituals. Additionally, Ngoma Kia-Mbemba was a influential political activist and advocate for Congolese independence in the mid-20th century, playing a crucial role in the decolonization movement.

It is important to note that historical records from Central and Southern Africa can be incomplete or limited, and there may be other significant figures or events associated with the surname "NGOMA" that have not been extensively documented or preserved.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Ngoma surname: questions and answers

How common is the Ngoma surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 167 in 2016. That gives Ngoma a modern rank of #22,055.

What does the Ngoma surname mean?

A surname of African origin meaning drum or percussion instrument.

What does the Ngoma map show?

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