UK surname

Sillah

A surname originating from the Gambia region of West Africa.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sillah is 243 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

Modern count

235

2016, ranked #17,530

Peak year

2014

243 bearers

Map years

2006 to 2016

Key insights

• The latest modern count shown here is 235 in 2016, ranked #17,530.
• The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Map

Sillah surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sillah surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Year

Loading map

Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Sillah 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	47	#32,975
1998	modern	44	#33,462
1999	modern	46	#33,424
2000	modern	48	#33,288
2001	modern	51	#32,850
2002	modern	68	#31,626
2003	modern	79	#30,549
2004	modern	97	#28,455
2005	modern	119	#25,193
2006	modern	128	#24,267
2007	modern	137	#23,590
2008	modern	171	#20,595
2009	modern	187	#19,868
2010	modern	200	#19,457
2011	modern	198	#19,410
2012	modern	214	#18,358
2013	modern	225	#18,027
2014	modern	243	#17,232
2015	modern	238	#17,378
2016	modern	235	#17,530

Geography

Where Sillahs 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 Southwark and Sandwell. 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	Southwark 015	Southwark
2	Southwark 020	Southwark
3	Sandwell 026	Sandwell
4	Southwark 006	Southwark
5	Southwark 018	Southwark

Forenames

First names often paired with Sillah

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Recent female names

Fatmata Fatou Mariama Gemma Aminata Isata Isatou Maureen Binta Mabinty

Recent male names

Ebrima Ibrahim Lamin Mohamed Abdul Foday Musa Momodou Omar Mustapha

Modern profile

Neighbourhood profile for Sillah

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Sillah surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Sillah 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 includes many younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Sillah 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

Sillah 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.

Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Sillah 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.

More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sillah is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate: Black - African

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

Origin

Meaning and origin of Sillah

The surname SILLAH is believed to have originated in West Africa, specifically in the region of Senegambia, which includes modern-day Senegal and Gambia. The name likely emerged during the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century, when the area was home to several powerful kingdoms and empires.

One possible origin of the name SILLAH is from the Wolof language, spoken by the Wolof people of Senegal. It may be derived from the Wolof word "silla," which means "to follow" or "to obey." This suggests that the surname could have been given to individuals who were loyal followers or servants of a ruler or noble family.

Another theory traces the name back to the Mandinka people, who were influential in the Mali Empire and other West African kingdoms. In the Mandinka language, "sillah" could signify a connection to the practice of traditional medicine or herbalism, as the word shares similarities with terms related to healing and natural remedies.

Early records mentioning the surname SILLAH are scarce, but it is believed to have been present in various regions of West Africa during the height of the great empires and kingdoms that dominated the region, such as the Ghana Empire, the Mali Empire, and the Songhai Empire.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname SILLAH was Musa Sillah, a prominent figure in the Kingdom of Kaabu (present-day Guinea-Bissau and parts of Senegal) during the 16th century. He was a renowned military leader and advisor to the king, playing a crucial role in the kingdom's expansion and defense.

Another notable bearer of the name was Malik Sillah, a respected scholar and Islamic theologian who lived in the 18th century in the region of present-day Gambia. He was known for his vast knowledge of the Quran and Islamic teachings, and his works were widely studied and disseminated throughout West Africa.

In the 19th century, Ousmane Sillah gained recognition as a skilled architect and builder in the Senegambian region. He was responsible for the construction of several important mosques and buildings, including the Great Mosque of Bakau in modern-day Gambia, which is considered a masterpiece of West African architecture.

During the era of European colonization in West Africa, Fatou Sillah emerged as a prominent figure in the resistance against French rule in Senegal. She was a respected leader and strategist, inspiring her people to fight for their independence and cultural preservation.

Lastly, in the 20th century, Abdoulaye Sillah was a renowned Senegalese painter and artist, celebrated for his vibrant depictions of traditional West African life and culture. His works are featured in numerous galleries and museums around the world, and he is considered one of the most influential African artists of his time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Silla

FAQ

Sillah surname: questions and answers

How common is the Sillah surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 235 in 2016. That gives Sillah a modern rank of #17,530.

What does the Sillah surname mean?