UK surname

Zareba

An Arabic surname meaning an enclosure or fortification.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Zareba is 143 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

Modern count

143

2016, ranked #24,505

Peak year

2015

143 bearers

Map years

2016 to 2016

Key insights

• The latest modern count shown here is 143 in 2016, ranked #24,505.
• The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Map

Zareba surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Zareba surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Year

Loading map

Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Zareba 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	19	#35,928
1998	modern	19	#36,009
1999	modern	16	#36,371
2000	modern	15	#36,425
2001	modern	15	#36,265
2002	modern	17	#36,164
2003	modern	16	#36,304
2004	modern	26	#35,519
2005	modern	36	#34,894
2006	modern	51	#33,992
2007	modern	66	#32,948
2008	modern	92	#30,286
2009	modern	102	#29,286
2010	modern	117	#27,557
2011	modern	122	#26,647
2012	modern	129	#25,705
2013	modern	134	#25,525
2014	modern	141	#24,855
2015	modern	143	#24,481
2016	modern	143	#24,505

Geography

Where Zarebas 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 Slough, Bristol, Brent, Merton and Wrexham. 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	Slough 008	Slough
2	Bristol 013	Bristol, City of
3	Brent 010	Brent
4	Merton 023	Merton
5	Wrexham 012	Wrexham

Forenames

First names often paired with Zareba

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Recent female names

Malgorzata Agnieszka Monika Katarzyna Anna Iwona Ewa Ewelina Dorota Karolina

Recent male names

Artur Piotr Rafal Grzegorz Dariusz Marcin Lukasz Michal Krzysztof Adrian

Modern profile

Neighbourhood profile for Zareba

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Zareba is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Zareba 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.

Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Zareba falls in decile 4 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.

More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Zareba 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.

Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate: White - Other

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

Origin

Meaning and origin of Zareba

The surname Zareba originates from Poland and is deeply rooted in the Polish language and culture. It is derived from the Polish word "zagroda," which means "enclosure" or "homestead." The name is particularly associated with rural areas where enclosed homesteads were common. Etymologically, the word "zagroda" comes from "za" meaning "behind" and "groda" meaning "fence" or "enclosure."

Dating back to the medieval period, the surname Zareba likely emerged around the 14th to 15th centuries when surnames became more standardized in Poland. Historically, Poland relied heavily on agrarian societies, and many people were named after their occupations or locations. The name likely referred to someone who lived near or owned an enclosed settlement.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname Zareba can be found in various church records and legal documents from the 16th century in the regions of Mazovia and Greater Poland. These areas were rich in agricultural activity, which aligns with the meaning of the surname.

An early historical figure with the surname was Jan Zareba, a notable landowner who was mentioned in documents from 1575 in Mazovia. He was involved in several land transactions and disputes, indicating that the Zareba family held some degree of influence during that period.

In the 17th century, another significant individual with the surname was Katarzyna Zareba, born in 1620, who was a documented benefactor of the local church in Greater Poland. Her donations and patronage were recorded in ecclesiastical histories, showing the family's continued importance in their community.

In the 19th century, during the time of the Polish Partitions, the surname appeared in various peasant uprisings and insurrections. Wojciech Zareba, born in 1798, was a known participant in the November Uprising against Russian rule in 1830-1831. His activities are chronicled in several historical accounts of the uprising.

Moving into the 20th century, Stanislaw Zareba, born in 1889, became a noted figure in the labor movement in Poland. He was instrumental in organizing strikes and advocating for workers' rights during the turbulent interwar period. His efforts are documented in labor history books and periodicals.

In more recent historical contexts, Maria Zareba, born in 1922, was a renowned linguist and academic who contributed significantly to the study of Slavic languages. Her scholarly work and numerous publications have had a lasting impact on the field.

The surname Zareba remains a testament to Polish heritage and the agrarian roots from which it sprang. Throughout history, individuals bearing this name have contributed to various facets of society, from landownership and religious patronage to political activism and academic achievement.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Zareba surname: questions and answers

How common is the Zareba surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 143 in 2016. That gives Zareba a modern rank of #24,505.

What does the Zareba surname mean?