NameCensus.

UK surname

Samarasinghe

A Buddhist surname of Sinhalese origin meaning "lion of the forest".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Brent, Ealing and Hillingdon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Samarasinghe is 153 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

135

2016, ranked #25,505

Peak year

2010

153 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 135 in 2016, ranked #25,505.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Samarasinghe surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Samarasinghe surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Samarasinghe 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 83 #29,216
1998 modern 81 #29,849
1999 modern 90 #29,056
2000 modern 89 #29,173
2001 modern 88 #29,056
2002 modern 103 #27,443
2003 modern 105 #26,940
2004 modern 120 #25,078
2005 modern 112 #26,114
2006 modern 123 #24,873
2007 modern 126 #24,860
2008 modern 125 #25,249
2009 modern 144 #23,577
2010 modern 153 #23,175
2011 modern 134 #25,050
2012 modern 127 #25,992
2013 modern 133 #25,655
2014 modern 134 #25,711
2015 modern 137 #25,226
2016 modern 135 #25,505

Geography

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Where Samarasinghes 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 Brent, Ealing, Hillingdon, Coventry and St Albans. 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 Brent 023 Brent
2 Ealing 002 Ealing
3 Hillingdon 027 Hillingdon
4 Coventry 042 Coventry
5 St Albans 013 St Albans

Forenames

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First names often paired with Samarasinghe

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

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

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Samarasinghe surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Samarasinghe household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Samarasinghe is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Samarasinghe 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

Samarasinghe falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Samarasinghe 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
Asian - Indian

This describes the area pattern most associated with Samarasinghe, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Samarasinghe

The surname Samarasinghe is of Sri Lankan origin, with roots dating back to the 10th century AD. It is a compound name derived from the Sinhalese words 'samara', meaning battle or war, and 'singhe', meaning lion. The name likely originated as a title bestowed upon brave warriors or chieftains who displayed lion-like courage in times of conflict.

The earliest known recording of the name Samarasinghe can be found in the Mahavamsa, an ancient chronicle of Sri Lankan history written in the 5th century AD. It mentions a chieftain named Samarasinghe who led his clan against invading forces during the reign of King Dappula IV.

During the medieval period, the Samarasinghe clan was a prominent family in the Kandyan Kingdom, located in the central highlands of Sri Lanka. They held positions of power and influence, often serving as advisors or generals to the Kandyan kings.

One notable figure bearing the name was Samarasinghe Mudaliyar, a high-ranking official and diplomat who served under King Vimaladharmasuriya II in the late 17th century. He played a crucial role in negotiations with the Dutch East India Company and is mentioned in several Dutch colonial records from that era.

In the 19th century, Samarasinghe Seneviratne was a revered Buddhist monk and scholar who contributed significantly to the revival of Sinhalese literature and culture. His works, such as the Sinhalese-English dictionary, are considered invaluable resources for preserving the language and traditions of Sri Lanka.

Another prominent individual with the surname was Sir Solomon Samarasinghe, a distinguished lawyer and statesman who served as the first Speaker of the Parliament of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) from 1947 to 1952. He played a pivotal role in the country's transition to self-governance and independence from British rule.

The name Samarasinghe continues to be widely used in Sri Lanka, with many notable figures bearing the surname in various fields, including politics, academia, and the arts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Samarasinghe surname: questions and answers

How common is the Samarasinghe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 135 in 2016. That gives Samarasinghe a modern rank of #25,505.

What does the Samarasinghe surname mean?

A Buddhist surname of Sinhalese origin meaning "lion of the forest".

What does the Samarasinghe map show?

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