Find out how popular the last name Tamba is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Tamba.

Tamba, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Tamba surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tamba in America

Tamba is the 54055th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tamba surname appeared 382 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Tamba.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tamba to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Tamba

The surname Tamba has its origins in West Africa, specifically in the region now known as Guinea. This name first appeared in the 13th century and is believed to have derived from the Mandinka word "tambaali," which translates to "weaver" or "cloth-maker."

The earliest recorded instances of the Tamba name can be found in the historical records of the Mali Empire, a powerful West African kingdom that flourished between the 13th and 17th centuries. During this period, the Tamba family was known for their expertise in weaving and textile production, which was a highly valued trade in the region.

One notable individual bearing the Tamba surname was Mamadou Tamba, a renowned weaver who lived in the 15th century. His intricate and vibrant woven fabrics were highly sought after by the nobility and wealthy merchants of the Mali Empire. Mamadou Tamba's work is mentioned in several historical accounts and is considered a significant contribution to the cultural heritage of the region.

In the 16th century, the Tamba family migrated to the coastal regions of present-day Guinea, where they continued their weaving traditions. Recorded instances of the Tamba name can be found in Portuguese colonial records from this time, as the Portuguese had established trading posts along the Guinean coast.

Another notable figure with the Tamba surname was Fode Tamba, a 17th-century merchant and explorer from the coastal region of Guinea. Fode Tamba is credited with establishing trade routes between the coastal settlements and the interior regions of West Africa, facilitating the exchange of goods and cultural influences.

As the centuries passed, the Tamba name spread across West Africa and beyond, with members of the family living in various regions and contributing to the cultural and economic fabric of their communities. Alfa Tamba, a 19th-century scholar and teacher from Sierra Leone, was renowned for his work in promoting education and preserving the oral traditions of his people.

Throughout its history, the Tamba surname has been associated with the textile industry, trade, exploration, and educational pursuits. While its origins can be traced back to the ancient Mali Empire, the name has evolved and taken on new meanings as it has been carried across different regions and cultures.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tamba

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Tamba.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Tamba was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Tamba has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Tamba was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Tamba, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!