NameCensus.

UK surname

Abad

A Spanish surname derived from the Arabic word "abad," meaning "one who devotes himself to the service of God."

In the 1881 census there were 4 people recorded with the Abad surname, ranking it #33,288 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 161, ranked #22,606, up from #33,288 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Abad is 161 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 3925.0%.

1881 census count

4

Ranked #33,288

Modern count

161

2016, ranked #22,606

Peak year

2015

161 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Abad had 4 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,288 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 161 in 2016, ranked #22,606.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 11 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Abad surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Abad surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Abad 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
1851 historical 1 #33,412
1861 historical 11 #32,452
1881 historical 4 #33,288
1891 historical 4 #34,098
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1911 historical 9 #32,754
1997 modern 54 #32,210
1998 modern 54 #32,518
1999 modern 66 #31,509
2000 modern 56 #32,514
2001 modern 59 #32,080
2002 modern 71 #31,351
2003 modern 77 #30,762
2004 modern 90 #29,481
2005 modern 81 #30,740
2006 modern 97 #28,793
2007 modern 102 #28,351
2008 modern 118 #26,212
2009 modern 116 #27,062
2010 modern 137 #24,907
2011 modern 130 #25,547
2012 modern 139 #24,485
2013 modern 148 #23,884
2014 modern 156 #23,231
2015 modern 161 #22,599
2016 modern 161 #22,606

Geography

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Where Abads 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, Sandwell, Leeds, Brent and Camden. 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 012 Hammersmith and Fulham
2 Sandwell 026 Sandwell
3 Leeds 103 Leeds
4 Brent 030 Brent
5 Camden 011 Camden

Forenames

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First names often paired with Abad

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Abad

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Abad surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Abad 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Abad 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

Abad 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

Abad falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Abad 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
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Abad

The surname Abad originated in Spain during the medieval period. It is derived from the Arabic word "abad," which means "servant" or "worshipper" of God. This surname was commonly used by Moors and Sephardic Jews who converted to Christianity during the Reconquista.

The earliest recorded instances of the Abad surname can be found in documents from the 12th and 13th centuries in regions like Aragon, Valencia, and Catalonia. These areas were under Moorish rule for several centuries before being reconquered by Christian kingdoms.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the Abad surname was Rabbi Meir Abad, a prominent Jewish philosopher and theologian who lived in Toledo, Spain, during the 12th century. He was known for his work on the reconciliation of Jewish and Aristotelian thought.

In the 14th century, the Abad surname appears in the Libro de Repartimiento de Mallorca, a document that recorded the distribution of land and property on the island of Mallorca after its reconquest from the Moors in 1229.

During the 15th century, Juan Abad was a renowned Spanish poet and writer who served as a secretary to the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella. He is best known for his work Crónica de los Reyes Católicos.

In the 16th century, Diego Abad de Santillán was a notable Spanish historian and writer. He authored several works, including the Historia del Gran Capitán, a biography of the famous Spanish military commander Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba.

Another notable figure with the Abad surname was Pedro Abad y Lleixa, a Spanish painter and engraver who lived in the 17th century. He is known for his religious and historical works, many of which can be found in churches and museums across Spain.

Throughout history, the Abad surname has been associated with various professions, including religious figures, writers, artists, and scholars. While its origins can be traced back to the Moorish and Sephardic Jewish communities in medieval Spain, the surname has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and cultural exchange.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Abad families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Abad surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Staffordshire leads with 4 Abads recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.49x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 4 30.49x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Uttoxeter in Staffordshire leads with 4 Abads recorded in 1881 and an index of 5714.29x.

Place Total Index
Uttoxeter 4 5714.29x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Abad surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Annie 1
Ethel 1
Margaret 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Abad surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Henry 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Abad households.

Occupation Count
Vicar Of Uttoxeter 1

FAQ

Abad surname: questions and answers

How common was the Abad surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4 people were recorded with the Abad surname. That placed it at #33,288 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Abad surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 161 in 2016. That gives Abad a modern rank of #22,606.

What does the Abad surname mean?

A Spanish surname derived from the Arabic word "abad," meaning "one who devotes himself to the service of God."

What does the Abad map show?

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