NameCensus.

UK surname

Umeh

A surname of Nigerian Igbo origin indicating membership in the wealthy and industrious merchant class.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hammersmith and Fulham, Greenwich and Brent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Umeh is 151 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

149

2016, ranked #23,844

Peak year

2015

151 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 149 in 2016, ranked #23,844.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Umeh surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Umeh surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Umeh 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 33 #34,377
1998 modern 35 #34,344
1999 modern 38 #34,142
2000 modern 41 #33,889
2001 modern 40 #33,842
2002 modern 47 #33,548
2003 modern 47 #33,619
2004 modern 54 #33,248
2005 modern 68 #32,097
2006 modern 83 #30,808
2007 modern 89 #30,383
2008 modern 104 #28,341
2009 modern 119 #26,637
2010 modern 120 #27,124
2011 modern 111 #28,294
2012 modern 133 #25,187
2013 modern 141 #24,670
2014 modern 150 #23,864
2015 modern 151 #23,613
2016 modern 149 #23,844

Geography

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Where Umehs 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 Hammersmith and Fulham, Greenwich, Brent and Haringey. 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 Hammersmith and Fulham 004 Hammersmith and Fulham
2 Greenwich 002 Greenwich
3 Brent 025 Brent
4 Haringey 031 Haringey
5 Brent 027 Brent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Umeh

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Umeh

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

Umeh 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

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

Meaning and origin of Umeh

The surname "UMEH" has its origins in the Igbo ethnic group of southeastern Nigeria. It is a relatively uncommon name that can be traced back to the 16th century in the region now known as Anambra State.

The name "UMEH" is believed to have derived from the Igbo word "ume," which refers to a type of tree that bears edible fruit. It is possible that the name was originally given to someone who lived near or worked with these trees.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "UMEH" appears in a local census record from the town of Awka in the late 1600s. The document lists a man named Nwachukwu Umeh as a landowner in the area.

In the 19th century, a prominent Igbo trader and businessman named Okonkwo Umeh gained recognition for his successful trading ventures across West Africa. He was born in 1823 and died in 1898.

Another notable individual with the surname "UMEH" was Nnamdi Umeh, a political activist and writer who advocated for Nigerian independence in the early 20th century. He was born in 1885 and played a significant role in the nationalist movement until his death in 1957.

During the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970), a military officer named Emmanuel Umeh served as a commander in the Biafran forces. He was recognized for his bravery and leadership during the conflict.

In more recent times, a Nigerian novelist and poet named Chika Umeh gained critical acclaim for her works exploring themes of identity and cultural heritage. She was born in 1944 and published several acclaimed books before her passing in 2009.

Another individual worth mentioning is Chukwuemeka Umeh, a prominent Nigerian businessman and philanthropist born in 1952. He has made significant contributions to various charitable organizations and initiatives in his home country.

While the surname "UMEH" may not be among the most common in Nigeria, it has a rich history and has been carried by several notable individuals throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Umeh surname: questions and answers

How common is the Umeh surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 149 in 2016. That gives Umeh a modern rank of #23,844.

What does the Umeh surname mean?

A surname of Nigerian Igbo origin indicating membership in the wealthy and industrious merchant class.

What does the Umeh map show?

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