NameCensus.

UK surname

Abba

A patronymic surname of Syriac origin meaning "father."

In the 1881 census there were 82 people recorded with the Abba surname, ranking it #21,957 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 232, ranked #17,694, up from #21,957 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Leicester, East Riding of Yorkshire and Carlisle.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Abba is 232 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 182.9%.

1881 census count

82

Ranked #21,957

Modern count

232

2016, ranked #17,694

Peak year

2015

232 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Abba had 82 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,957 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 232 in 2016, ranked #17,694.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 90 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Abba surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Abba surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Abba 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 45 #25,168
1861 historical 69 #25,057
1881 historical 82 #21,957
1891 historical 76 #27,290
1901 historical 76 #25,734
1911 historical 90 #23,797
1997 modern 172 #19,371
1998 modern 181 #19,229
1999 modern 176 #19,722
2000 modern 180 #19,425
2001 modern 175 #19,484
2002 modern 184 #19,275
2003 modern 187 #18,856
2004 modern 187 #18,993
2005 modern 200 #18,144
2006 modern 201 #18,226
2007 modern 209 #17,951
2008 modern 208 #18,171
2009 modern 216 #18,120
2010 modern 226 #17,942
2011 modern 221 #18,039
2012 modern 226 #17,679
2013 modern 226 #17,969
2014 modern 230 #17,872
2015 modern 232 #17,689
2016 modern 232 #17,694

Geography

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Where Abbas 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 Leicester, East Riding of Yorkshire and Carlisle. 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 Leicester 018 Leicester
2 Leicester 017 Leicester
3 East Riding of Yorkshire 026 East Riding of Yorkshire
4 Leicester 040 Leicester
5 Carlisle 009 Carlisle

Forenames

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First names often paired with Abba

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Abba

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Abba 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

Abba 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

Abba 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 Abba 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
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Abba

The surname ABBA has its origins in the Middle East, particularly in the Arabic-speaking regions. It can be traced back to the 7th century AD during the rise of Islam and the spread of the Arabic language across the Middle East and North Africa.

The name ABBA is derived from the Arabic word "abba," which means "father" or "daddy." It was initially used as a term of endearment and respect for one's father or a paternal figure. Over time, it evolved into a surname, likely adopted by children or descendants to honor their fathers or ancestors.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname ABBA can be found in the writings of the renowned Arab philosopher and polymath, Al-Kindi (801-873 AD). He mentioned an individual named Abu Yusuf Ya'qub ibn Ishaq al-Sabbah Al-Abba, who was a renowned mathematician and astronomer of the 9th century.

Another notable figure bearing the surname ABBA was the 12th-century Sufi mystic and poet, Abu Bakr Abba (1165-1235). He was born in Raqqa, Syria, and is known for his spiritual poetry and contributions to the Mevlevi Sufi order.

In the 13th century, the surname ABBA appeared in the records of the Mamluk Sultanate in Egypt. One such individual was Sayf al-Din al-Abba (1210-1280), a prominent military commander and governor who served under the Mamluk Sultan Baibars.

The surname ABBA can also be found in historical documents from the Ottoman Empire, such as the tax registers (defter-i khaqani) from the 16th century. One example is Ibrahim Abba, a landowner and farmer from the village of Konya in present-day Turkey during the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent (1494-1566).

Another notable figure with the surname ABBA was the 18th-century Moroccan scholar and historian, Ahmad ibn Khalid al-Abba (1718-1792). He authored several works on the history and geography of Morocco, including the influential book "Al-Rawd al-'Atir fi Nubdha min Akhbar al-Qasr al-Saghir" (The Fragrant Garden: A Brief History of the City of Al-Qasr al-Saghir).

While the surname ABBA has its roots in the Middle East and the Arabic language, it has since spread to other parts of the world, likely through migration and cultural exchange. However, its historical origins and significance as a paternal name in Arabic culture remain an integral part of its legacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Abba families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Abba 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. Yorkshire leads with 35 Abbas recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.26x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 35 4.26x
Westmorland 21 115.26x
Lancashire 18 1.83x
Durham 5 2.03x
Essex 3 1.83x
Royal Navy 3 30.36x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Southcoates in Yorkshire leads with 15 Abbas recorded in 1881 and an index of 328.95x.

Place Total Index
Southcoates 15 328.95x
Sutton Stoneferry 11 468.09x
Nether Staveley 10 11111.11x
Lancaster 8 136.75x
Over Staveley 7 3333.33x
Farington 5 877.19x
Washington 5 485.44x
Oldham 4 12.60x
Cottingham 3 169.49x
East Ham 3 98.68x
Sculcoates 3 23.02x
Strickland Roger 3 2500.00x
Scarborough 2 26.77x
Barrow In Furness 1 7.47x
Orton 1 185.19x
Skipton 1 38.61x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Elizabeth 4
Sarah 4
Hannah 2
Isabella 2
Janet 2
Maria 2
Ada 1
Agness 1
Alice 1
Ann 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Edith 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Geanie 1
Gertrude 1
Jane 1
Kate 1
Martha 1
Minnie 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 6
Thomas 5
John 4
Joseph 3
James 2
Adam 1
Amon 1
Anthony 1
Arthur 1
David 1
Edward 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
George 1
Harrison 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Skoob 1
Walter 1
Wm. 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 Abba households.

FAQ

Abba surname: questions and answers

How common was the Abba surname in 1881?

In 1881, 82 people were recorded with the Abba surname. That placed it at #21,957 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Abba surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 232 in 2016. That gives Abba a modern rank of #17,694.

What does the Abba surname mean?

A patronymic surname of Syriac origin meaning "father."

What does the Abba map show?

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