NameCensus.

UK surname

Subba

A surname indicating a person of high rank or an officer of royalty in certain South Asian cultures.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hounslow, Harrow and Rushmoor.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Subba is 121 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

121

2016, ranked #27,399

Peak year

2016

121 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 121 in 2016, ranked #27,399.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Subba surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Subba surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Subba 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 3 #38,317
1998 modern 4 #38,082
1999 modern 7 #37,513
2000 modern 6 #37,624
2001 modern 5 #37,652
2002 modern 10 #36,902
2003 modern 14 #36,512
2004 modern 15 #36,530
2005 modern 18 #36,332
2006 modern 22 #36,105
2007 modern 27 #35,876
2008 modern 33 #35,556
2009 modern 43 #35,088
2010 modern 72 #33,324
2011 modern 68 #33,613
2012 modern 99 #30,442
2013 modern 109 #29,209
2014 modern 115 #28,439
2015 modern 119 #27,684
2016 modern 121 #27,399

Geography

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Where Subbas 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 Hounslow, Harrow, Rushmoor and Oxford. 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 Hounslow 022 Hounslow
2 Harrow 010 Harrow
3 Rushmoor 007 Rushmoor
4 Oxford 016 Oxford
5 Rushmoor 008 Rushmoor

Forenames

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First names often paired with Subba

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

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

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Subba surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Subba household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Subba is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

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

Subba 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

Subba falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Subba is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Asian - Indian

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

Meaning and origin of Subba

The surname "SUBBA" originates from Nepal and parts of Northeast India. It is believed to have derived from the Sanskrit word "Subha" or "Subarna," meaning "golden" or "auspicious." The name gained prominence during the medieval period in the Himalayan region.

The earliest recorded instances of the Subba surname can be traced back to the 14th century, when it was used by members of the Kirat community, an indigenous ethnic group in Nepal and the neighboring Indian states of Sikkim and West Bengal. The Subba surname was particularly prevalent among the ruling class and aristocracy of the Kirat people.

In the 16th century, the Subba surname appears in several historical manuscripts and records from the region, including the Ain-i-Akbari, a detailed document commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great. The Ain-i-Akbari mentions the Subba community as a prominent group in the eastern Himalayan regions.

One of the earliest known individuals with the Subba surname was Sher Bahadur Subba, a Nepali military leader who played a significant role in the unification of Nepal during the late 18th century. He served as a commander under the legendary King Prithvi Narayan Shah.

Another notable figure was Chandra Kanta Subba, a Nepali writer and poet who lived from 1899 to 1978. He is renowned for his contributions to Nepali literature and his efforts in promoting the use of the Nepali language in education and administration.

In the 20th century, Iman Singh Subba (1923-2003) gained recognition as a influential political leader and activist in Sikkim. He played a pivotal role in the state's merger with India and served as the first Chief Minister of Sikkim after it became a state of the Indian Union.

The Subba surname has also been associated with various place names in the region, such as Subba Gaon (meaning "Subba Village") in West Bengal, India, and Subba Khola (meaning "Subba River") in eastern Nepal.

While the Subba surname is most commonly found in Nepal, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities, particularly in countries like India, Bhutan, and the United Kingdom.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Subba surname: questions and answers

How common is the Subba surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 121 in 2016. That gives Subba a modern rank of #27,399.

What does the Subba surname mean?

A surname indicating a person of high rank or an officer of royalty in certain South Asian cultures.

What does the Subba map show?

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