NameCensus.

UK surname

Samatar

A surname denoting a person from the Somali Samatar clan.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Leicester, Camden and Sheffield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Samatar is 114 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

111

2016, ranked #29,049

Peak year

2015

114 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 111 in 2016, ranked #29,049.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Samatar surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Samatar surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Samatar 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 10 #37,060
1998 modern 10 #37,048
1999 modern 16 #36,371
2000 modern 16 #36,316
2001 modern 16 #36,160
2002 modern 24 #35,520
2003 modern 33 #34,773
2004 modern 44 #34,053
2005 modern 46 #34,081
2006 modern 55 #33,688
2007 modern 55 #33,965
2008 modern 70 #32,856
2009 modern 80 #32,277
2010 modern 98 #30,540
2011 modern 83 #32,336
2012 modern 105 #29,362
2013 modern 109 #29,209
2014 modern 112 #28,934
2015 modern 114 #28,478
2016 modern 111 #29,049

Geography

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Where Samatars 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 Leicester, Camden, Sheffield, Ealing and Hillingdon. 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 Leicester 017 Leicester
2 Camden 023 Camden
3 Sheffield 022 Sheffield
4 Ealing 037 Ealing
5 Hillingdon 024 Hillingdon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Samatar

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Samatar

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

Samatar 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

Samatar 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 Samatar 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
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Samatar

The surname Samatar has its origins in the Horn of Africa, particularly in Somalia. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 12th to 15th centuries. The name is derived from the Somali word "samaatar," which means "traveler" or "merchant."

Historically, the Samatar clan was known for their involvement in trade and commerce across the region, forming part of the coastal trading communities of the Somali maritime empire. Their trading activities extended from the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean, and they played a crucial role in the exchange of goods between the Arab world and the African interior.

One of the earliest known references to the Samatar name can be found in the chronicles of Ibn Battuta, a famous Moroccan explorer and traveler who visited the Somali coast in the 14th century. He documented his encounters with local merchants and traders, including those from the Samatar clan.

The name Samatar has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. One of the earliest recorded examples is Sayed Mohamed Samatar, a prominent merchant and diplomat who lived in the 16th century. He was known for his role in facilitating trade relations between the Somali coast and the Ottoman Empire.

Another influential figure was Abdullahi Samatar, a 19th-century Somali scholar and religious leader who played a significant role in the spread of Islam in the region. His descendants carried on his legacy, with many becoming respected scholars and leaders in their communities.

In the 20th century, Abdi Samatar, a Somali academic and author, gained recognition for his work on African politics and development. He was born in 1943 and wrote extensively on issues related to Somalia and the broader Horn of Africa region.

Abdullahi Ahmed Samatar, born in 1944, was a Somali diplomat and academic who served as the Foreign Minister of Somalia from 1987 to 1988. He later became a professor at the University of Delaware, where he taught courses on African and Middle Eastern studies.

Ahmed Ismail Samatar, born in 1950, is another notable figure with the Samatar surname. He is a Somali writer, academic, and activist who has been a vocal advocate for human rights and democracy in Somalia. He has authored several books and articles exploring the political and social dynamics of the region.

While the Samatar name has its roots in Somalia, it has spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, the historical significance and legacy of the name remain deeply rooted in the rich cultural and trading traditions of the Horn of Africa.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Samatar surname: questions and answers

How common is the Samatar surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 111 in 2016. That gives Samatar a modern rank of #29,049.

What does the Samatar surname mean?

A surname denoting a person from the Somali Samatar clan.

What does the Samatar map show?

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