NameCensus.

UK surname

Tembo

A surname of Bantu origin meaning elephant or ivory.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Reading, Barnet and Leeds.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tembo is 216 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

214

2016, ranked #18,740

Peak year

2014

216 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 214 in 2016, ranked #18,740.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 8 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Tembo surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tembo surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tembo 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 8 #32,887
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1997 modern 37 #33,964
1998 modern 35 #34,344
1999 modern 34 #34,528
2000 modern 43 #33,709
2001 modern 46 #33,311
2002 modern 75 #30,950
2003 modern 94 #28,686
2004 modern 124 #24,559
2005 modern 140 #22,774
2006 modern 160 #21,066
2007 modern 166 #20,811
2008 modern 176 #20,224
2009 modern 195 #19,329
2010 modern 205 #19,140
2011 modern 187 #20,132
2012 modern 193 #19,665
2013 modern 208 #19,041
2014 modern 216 #18,705
2015 modern 216 #18,600
2016 modern 214 #18,740

Geography

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Where Tembos 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 Reading, Barnet and Leeds. 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 Reading 010 Reading
2 Barnet 026 Barnet
3 Leeds 017 Leeds
4 Leeds 055 Leeds
5 Leeds 064 Leeds

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tembo

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tembo

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Tembo 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

Tembo 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

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

Meaning and origin of Tembo

The surname "TEMBO" is of Swahili origin, originating from the East African region. It is derived from the Swahili word "tembo," which translates to "elephant." The name likely originated as a descriptive surname, possibly given to an individual with a physical resemblance to an elephant or one known for their strength and endurance, much like the majestic animal.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname "TEMBO" can be traced back to the 18th century in various historical records and documents from the East African region, particularly in what is now Tanzania and Kenya. It is believed that the name may have been used earlier, but written records from that time are scarce or have not been adequately preserved.

One notable historical figure with the surname "TEMBO" was Abdallah Tembo, a prominent Swahili trader and explorer who lived in the 19th century. He was born around 1830 in Zanzibar and is known for his extensive travels throughout East and Central Africa, where he established trade routes and documented his travels.

Another individual of note was Musa Tembo, a Swahili-Arab explorer and trader from Zanzibar who lived in the late 19th century. He was known for his travels throughout the interior regions of East Africa and his involvement in the ivory trade.

In the 20th century, one of the most recognized individuals with the surname "TEMBO" was Julius Tembo, a Tanzanian politician and diplomat. He was born in 1923 and served as the Prime Minister of Tanzania from 1962 to 1972, playing a significant role in the country's early years of independence.

In the realm of literature, Raphael Tembo, a Malawian author and poet, gained recognition for his works exploring themes of identity, culture, and social issues. He was born in 1935 and his works, including the collection "Tainted Souls," have received critical acclaim.

Another notable figure was Peter Tembo, a Zambian lawyer and human rights activist who played a crucial role in the country's independence movement. He was born in 1937 and served as the President of the Law Association of Zambia, advocating for legal reforms and the protection of human rights.

While the surname "TEMBO" has its roots in East Africa, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities, carrying with it a rich cultural heritage and historical significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Tembo surname: questions and answers

How common is the Tembo surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 214 in 2016. That gives Tembo a modern rank of #18,740.

What does the Tembo surname mean?

A surname of Bantu origin meaning elephant or ivory.

What does the Tembo map show?

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