NameCensus.

UK surname

Samuda

A surname of Spanish origin derived from the phrase "sam uda" meaning "we are kind".

In the 1881 census there were 18 people recorded with the Samuda surname, ranking it #31,019 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 179, ranked #21,086, up from #31,019 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Enfield, Wiltshire and Haringey.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Samuda is 191 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 894.4%.

1881 census count

18

Ranked #31,019

Modern count

179

2016, ranked #21,086

Peak year

2010

191 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Samuda had 18 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,019 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 179 in 2016, ranked #21,086.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 28 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Samuda surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Samuda surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Samuda 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
1851 historical 28 #28,274
1861 historical 23 #31,039
1881 historical 18 #31,019
1891 historical 23 #32,389
1901 historical 25 #31,259
1911 historical 21 #31,179
1997 modern 144 #21,660
1998 modern 149 #21,755
1999 modern 148 #22,020
2000 modern 151 #21,684
2001 modern 150 #21,482
2002 modern 170 #20,243
2003 modern 161 #20,697
2004 modern 152 #21,628
2005 modern 161 #20,799
2006 modern 155 #21,477
2007 modern 159 #21,387
2008 modern 161 #21,431
2009 modern 174 #20,782
2010 modern 191 #20,015
2011 modern 187 #20,132
2012 modern 178 #20,758
2013 modern 183 #20,722
2014 modern 183 #20,880
2015 modern 177 #21,220
2016 modern 179 #21,086

Geography

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Where Samudas 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 Enfield, Wiltshire, Haringey, Kirklees and Brent. 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 Enfield 033 Enfield
2 Wiltshire 046 Wiltshire
3 Haringey 015 Haringey
4 Kirklees 031 Kirklees
5 Brent 025 Brent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Samuda

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

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

Samuda 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

Samuda 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 Samuda is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

7
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 Samuda, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Samuda

The surname Samuda has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, likely tracing back to the 16th or 17th century. It is believed to have derived from the Sanskrit word "samudra," meaning "ocean" or "sea," which suggests that the name may have been associated with those who lived near the coast or worked in maritime professions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Samuda name can be found in the British East India Company's records from the late 17th century, where it appears as "Samoodra" or "Samoodrah." This spelling variation highlights the name's evolution over time as it transitioned from its Sanskrit roots to its present-day form.

In the 18th century, the Samuda family gained prominence in the British colonial administration in India. Notable individuals from this period include Ranjit Samuda (1725-1798), a wealthy merchant and landowner in Bengal, and his son, Jaswant Samuda (1758-1824), who served as a high-ranking official in the East India Company.

As the British Empire expanded, the Samuda family began to establish roots in other parts of the world. In the early 19th century, Joseph Samuda (1789-1867), a shipbuilder and engineer, founded the Samuda Brothers shipyard in London, which played a significant role in the construction of some of the era's most iconic vessels, including the iron-hulled steamship SS Great Britain.

Another prominent figure bearing the Samuda name was Maharaja Jaswant Samuda (1818-1892), a ruler of the princely state of Jodhpur in Rajasthan, India. He is remembered for his efforts to modernize his kingdom and promote education and infrastructure development.

In the 20th century, Ajit Samuda (1920-2004), a British novelist and screenwriter of Indian descent, gained recognition for his works, which often explored themes of identity and cultural clashes. His novel "Zahara's Days" was nominated for the Booker Prize in 1973.

While the Samuda surname has its roots in India, it has since spread to various parts of the world, carried by individuals who have made significant contributions in fields ranging from business and engineering to literature and politics.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Samuda families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Samuda surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 4 Samudas recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.73x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 4 3.73x
Oxfordshire 3 45.32x
Staffordshire 2 5.53x
Surrey 2 3.83x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Paddington London in Middlesex leads with 3 Samudas recorded in 1881 and an index of 76.14x.

Place Total Index
Paddington London 3 76.14x
Shipton Under Wychwood 3 7500.00x
Camberwell 2 29.20x
Stoke Upon Trent 2 52.08x
Acton 1 158.73x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Samuda surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Ada 1
Cicile 1
Jane 1
Louisa 1
M. 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Samuda surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Cecil 2
John 2
Benjamin 1
Joseph 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Samuda households.

FAQ

Samuda surname: questions and answers

How common was the Samuda surname in 1881?

In 1881, 18 people were recorded with the Samuda surname. That placed it at #31,019 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Samuda surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 179 in 2016. That gives Samuda a modern rank of #21,086.

What does the Samuda surname mean?

A surname of Spanish origin derived from the phrase "sam uda" meaning "we are kind".

What does the Samuda map show?

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