NameCensus.

UK surname

Uka

A surname possibly originating from Japan or Native American tribes, its exact meaning and origins are uncertain.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Uka is 183 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

180

2016, ranked #21,022

Peak year

2015

183 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 180 in 2016, ranked #21,022.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Uka surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Uka surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Uka 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 37 #33,964
1998 modern 42 #33,651
1999 modern 50 #33,041
2000 modern 53 #32,805
2001 modern 55 #32,482
2002 modern 69 #31,527
2003 modern 81 #30,311
2004 modern 92 #29,197
2005 modern 105 #27,203
2006 modern 104 #27,646
2007 modern 115 #26,348
2008 modern 118 #26,212
2009 modern 135 #24,594
2010 modern 159 #22,577
2011 modern 151 #23,204
2012 modern 160 #22,260
2013 modern 170 #21,726
2014 modern 182 #20,958
2015 modern 183 #20,786
2016 modern 180 #21,022

Geography

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Where Ukas 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 Liverpool, Sandwell, Barking and Dagenham and Havering. 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 Liverpool 031 Liverpool
2 Sandwell 012 Sandwell
3 Barking and Dagenham 022 Barking and Dagenham
4 Havering 004 Havering
5 Sandwell 013 Sandwell

Forenames

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First names often paired with Uka

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

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Uka, 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 Uka surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Uka 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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Uka 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

Uka 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

Uka 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 Uka 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
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Uka

The surname UKA has its origins in Japan, where it first emerged during the Nara period (710-794 AD). It is believed to be derived from the Japanese word "uka," meaning "inner harbor" or "cove." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near a sheltered inlet or bay.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name UKA can be found in the Shoku Nihongi, an ancient Japanese chronicle completed in 797 AD. This text mentions a person named Uka no Sukune, who served as a high-ranking official during the reign of Emperor Shomu in the 8th century.

In the 12th century, the name UKA appeared in the Heike Monogatari, a famous Japanese epic that recounts the struggle between the Minamoto and Taira clans. The text references a Samurai warrior named Uka no Yoshitsune, who fought alongside Minamoto Yoritomo during the Genpei War (1180-1185 AD).

During the Kamakura period (1185-1333 AD), the UKA surname was particularly prevalent in the coastal regions of present-day Chiba Prefecture, which lies east of Tokyo. This area was known for its numerous inlets and coves, lending credence to the name's supposed maritime origins.

One notable figure from this era was Uka Masatsune (1239-1290), a skilled swordsman and poet who served as a Samurai retainer under the Hojo clan. His literary works, including several waka poems, have been preserved in various anthologies.

In the 16th century, an Uka family resided in the village of Ukamura, located in what is now Yamagata Prefecture. The village's name, which translates to "Uka Village," suggests a longstanding association between the UKA surname and this particular region.

Another historically significant individual was Uka Gengo (1571-1639), a Buddhist monk and scholar who played a crucial role in reviving the Jodo Shinshu branch of Pure Land Buddhism during the Edo period. His teachings and writings had a lasting influence on Japanese religious thought.

Other notable figures with the UKA surname include Uka Kyozan (1806-1882), a renowned painter and calligrapher from the late Edo period, and Uka Naohiko (1869-1945), a politician and diplomat who served as the Japanese ambassador to Italy in the early 20th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Uka surname: questions and answers

How common is the Uka surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 180 in 2016. That gives Uka a modern rank of #21,022.

What does the Uka surname mean?

A surname possibly originating from Japan or Native American tribes, its exact meaning and origins are uncertain.

What does the Uka map show?

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