NameCensus.

UK surname

Samba

A surname indicating origin from the town of Samba in India.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Samba is 170 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

170

2016, ranked #21,801

Peak year

2016

170 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 170 in 2016, ranked #21,801.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Samba surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Samba surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Samba 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
1861 historical 4 #33,628
1997 modern 33 #34,377
1998 modern 44 #33,462
1999 modern 55 #32,561
2000 modern 54 #32,710
2001 modern 51 #32,850
2002 modern 68 #31,626
2003 modern 74 #31,091
2004 modern 71 #31,578
2005 modern 75 #31,400
2006 modern 83 #30,808
2007 modern 100 #28,669
2008 modern 114 #26,796
2009 modern 122 #26,220
2010 modern 145 #24,031
2011 modern 132 #25,303
2012 modern 137 #24,731
2013 modern 148 #23,884
2014 modern 158 #23,022
2015 modern 168 #21,971
2016 modern 170 #21,801

Geography

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Where Sambas 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 Hackney, Greenwich, Southwark and Great Yarmouth. 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 Hackney 015 Hackney
2 Greenwich 011 Greenwich
3 Hackney 002 Hackney
4 Southwark 019 Southwark
5 Great Yarmouth 007 Great Yarmouth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Samba

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

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

Samba 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

Samba falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Samba 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 Samba, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Samba

The surname Samba is believed to have originated in Portugal, likely derived from a place name or an older Portuguese word. It may have roots in the Latin word "sambucus," which referred to the elder tree or its berries.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Samba surname can be found in the 16th century, with references to individuals bearing this name in various historical documents from that period. For example, records from the Portuguese Inquisition mention a certain João Samba, who was a merchant living in Lisbon in the late 1500s.

In the 17th century, there are mentions of a Portuguese explorer named Diogo Samba, who was part of expeditions to Brazil and other parts of South America. His travels and exploits are documented in some colonial-era manuscripts and logs from that time.

The Samba surname also appears in some 18th-century records from the Azores Islands, a Portuguese archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. These records indicate that Samba was a relatively common surname among families living on the islands during that period.

One notable individual with the Samba surname was José Samba (1792-1868), a Portuguese poet and writer who gained recognition for his works in the Romantic literary movement of the early 19th century.

Another prominent figure was Luís Samba (1835-1910), a Portuguese politician and statesman who served as Prime Minister of Portugal from 1897 to 1900. He was a prominent figure in the country's political landscape during the late 19th century.

In the 20th century, a famous Brazilian musician and composer named Ary Barroso (1903-1964) was born Ary Samba. He is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of the samba music genre and is credited with composing some of the most iconic samba songs in Brazilian music history.

Additionally, there was a Portuguese footballer named Tó Samba (1935-2018), who played as a striker for several clubs in the 1950s and 1960s, including Sporting CP and the Portuguese national team.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the Samba surname throughout history, reflecting its Portuguese origins and its presence in various cultural and professional spheres over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Samba surname: questions and answers

How common is the Samba surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 170 in 2016. That gives Samba a modern rank of #21,801.

What does the Samba surname mean?

A surname indicating origin from the town of Samba in India.

What does the Samba map show?

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