NameCensus.

UK surname

Sithole

A surname derived from Nguni languages, meaning a shallow depression or pit in the ground.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stevenage, Wakefield and St Albans.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sithole is 359 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

354

2016, ranked #13,054

Peak year

2010

359 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 354 in 2016, ranked #13,054.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Sithole surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sithole surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sithole 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 1 #34,435
1997 modern 32 #34,472
1998 modern 47 #33,197
1999 modern 61 #31,971
2000 modern 72 #30,977
2001 modern 77 #30,277
2002 modern 108 #26,698
2003 modern 149 #21,766
2004 modern 200 #18,213
2005 modern 233 #16,434
2006 modern 259 #15,370
2007 modern 260 #15,476
2008 modern 278 #14,901
2009 modern 309 #14,135
2010 modern 359 #12,975
2011 modern 344 #13,249
2012 modern 345 #13,093
2013 modern 352 #13,130
2014 modern 357 #13,068
2015 modern 355 #13,033
2016 modern 354 #13,054

Geography

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Where Sitholes 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 Stevenage, Wakefield, St Albans and Croydon. 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 Stevenage 011 Stevenage
2 Wakefield 011 Wakefield
3 St Albans 013 St Albans
4 Croydon 008 Croydon
5 Croydon 004 Croydon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sithole

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

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

Sithole 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

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

Meaning and origin of Sithole

The surname Sithole has its origins in South Africa, emerging in the late 19th century. It is a Nguni name derived from the word "isithole," which translates to "a hole" or "a pit" in the Zulu and Xhosa languages. The name likely referred to a physical feature, such as a person living near a notable hole or pit, or perhaps a metaphorical reference to their circumstances.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Sithole name appears in the 1891 census records of the Cape Colony, where a family with the surname is listed as residing in the Eastern Cape region. This region was home to many Xhosa and Zulu communities, further solidifying the name's Nguni roots.

In the early 20th century, the Sithole name gained prominence with the birth of Harry Gwala Sithole (1920-1975), a prominent South African trade unionist and political activist who played a significant role in the anti-apartheid struggle. Sithole was a member of the African National Congress (ANC) and spent several years imprisoned on Robben Island for his activism.

Another notable figure bearing the Sithole surname was Ndabaningi Sithole (1920-2000), a Zimbabwean nationalist and political leader who co-founded the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) in 1963. Sithole played a pivotal role in the fight for Zimbabwean independence from British colonial rule and served as the first President of the independent Zimbabwe from 1980 to 1987.

The Sithole name also has a connection to the literary world through the acclaimed South African writer and academic, Nozizwe Cynthia Sithole (1932-2008). Her works explored themes of identity, race, and social issues in apartheid-era South Africa, and she was recognized with numerous awards for her contributions to literature.

In the realm of sports, the Sithole name is associated with Wilfred Sithole (1964-2007), a Zimbabwean cricketer who played for the national team in the 1980s and 1990s. He was a skilled all-rounder and captained the team during his career.

Beyond these prominent individuals, the Sithole surname has likely been carried by countless other families and individuals throughout Southern Africa, each with their unique stories and connections to the name's origins and meaning.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Sithole surname: questions and answers

How common is the Sithole surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 354 in 2016. That gives Sithole a modern rank of #13,054.

What does the Sithole surname mean?

A surname derived from Nguni languages, meaning a shallow depression or pit in the ground.

What does the Sithole map show?

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