NameCensus.

UK surname

Samra

An Arabic surname possibly derived from the word "samra" meaning "brown" or "dark brown".

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Samra is 1,490 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

1,461

2016, ranked #4,215

Peak year

2011

1,490 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,461 in 2016, ranked #4,215.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Suburban Professionals.

Samra surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Samra surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Samra 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 959 #5,672
1998 modern 993 #5,707
1999 modern 1,045 #5,511
2000 modern 1,062 #5,418
2001 modern 1,035 #5,437
2002 modern 1,147 #5,099
2003 modern 1,175 #4,892
2004 modern 1,205 #4,796
2005 modern 1,213 #4,722
2006 modern 1,262 #4,561
2007 modern 1,302 #4,479
2008 modern 1,336 #4,406
2009 modern 1,400 #4,329
2010 modern 1,472 #4,249
2011 modern 1,490 #4,177
2012 modern 1,468 #4,156
2013 modern 1,485 #4,183
2014 modern 1,469 #4,237
2015 modern 1,458 #4,234
2016 modern 1,461 #4,215

Geography

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Where Samras 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 Ealing, Sandwell and Birmingham. 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 Ealing 026 Ealing
2 Sandwell 026 Sandwell
3 Sandwell 017 Sandwell
4 Sandwell 023 Sandwell
5 Birmingham 133 Birmingham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Samra

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

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Suburban Professionals

Nationally, the Samra surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Suburban Professionals, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Samra household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Employment in this Group is typically in managerial and professional occupations, and education to degree level is common. Residents are typically of working age, many of whom identify with an Indian ethnicity. Households are unlikely to be of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities, and English is not the main language used in some households. This Group is found on the outskirts of most conurbations as well as in the suburbs of some free-standing towns.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Samra is most associated with areas classed as Young Asian Family Terraces, 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 households with dependent children typically live in terraced housing and are of (non-Chinese) Asian extraction. Individuals with Bangladeshi origins are particularly in evidence. Employment is often in elementary occupations or as process, plant or machine operatives, and part-time work is common. Students are much in evidence.

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

Samra 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

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

Meaning and origin of Samra

The surname SAMRA has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, with roots tracing back to the 16th century or earlier. It is believed to have derived from the Sanskrit word "samrāj," meaning "king" or "emperor," indicating that the name may have been associated with royalty or nobility in its early history.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the SAMRA name can be found in historical records from the Mughal Empire, which ruled over much of the Indian subcontinent from the 16th to the 19th centuries. The name appears in several administrative documents and records from this period, suggesting that individuals bearing this surname held positions of importance within the imperial bureaucracy.

During the British colonial period in India, the SAMRA name continued to be documented in various records and manuscripts. Notable individuals with this surname include Pandit Girdhari Lal SAMRA (1844-1912), a renowned scholar and author who wrote extensively on Hindu philosophy and culture.

As the Indian diaspora spread across the globe, the SAMRA name traveled with them. In the early 20th century, Lala Mulk Raj SAMRA (1880-1954), a prominent businessman and philanthropist, established himself in Nairobi, Kenya, where he played a significant role in the local Indian community.

Another notable figure was Sir Harbans Singh SAMRA (1914-1992), an Indian civil servant and diplomat who served as the Indian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom from 1973 to 1977. He was later appointed as the Governor of Uttar Pradesh, one of India's most populous states, from 1986 to 1988.

The SAMRA surname has also been associated with various place names and locations throughout India. For example, the village of Samra in the state of Punjab shares a similar spelling, suggesting a possible connection between the name and the geographical area.

While the SAMRA name has its roots in the Indian subcontinent, it has since spread to other parts of the world, carried by individuals and families who have migrated and settled in different countries over the centuries. The name continues to be a testament to the rich cultural heritage and historical significance of its origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Samra surname: questions and answers

How common is the Samra surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,461 in 2016. That gives Samra a modern rank of #4,215.

What does the Samra surname mean?

An Arabic surname possibly derived from the word "samra" meaning "brown" or "dark brown".

What does the Samra map show?

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