NameCensus.

UK surname

Abdalla

Derived from the Arabic name Abdullah, meaning "servant of Allah" or "servant of God."

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Abdalla is 898 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

898

2016, ranked #6,312

Peak year

2016

898 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 898 in 2016, ranked #6,312.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Abdalla surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Abdalla surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Abdalla 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
1861 historical 1 #34,435
1997 modern 121 #24,019
1998 modern 142 #22,406
1999 modern 170 #20,153
2000 modern 194 #18,554
2001 modern 189 #18,590
2002 modern 244 #16,085
2003 modern 283 #14,368
2004 modern 325 #13,161
2005 modern 396 #11,271
2006 modern 448 #10,269
2007 modern 491 #9,689
2008 modern 532 #9,195
2009 modern 636 #8,208
2010 modern 733 #7,504
2011 modern 719 #7,537
2012 modern 771 #7,073
2013 modern 814 #6,844
2014 modern 856 #6,625
2015 modern 891 #6,368
2016 modern 898 #6,312

Geography

Back to top

Where Abdallas 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 Greenwich, Brent, Newham, Manchester and Westminster. 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 Greenwich 011 Greenwich
2 Brent 014 Brent
3 Newham 023 Newham
4 Manchester 024 Manchester
5 Westminster 009 Westminster

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Abdalla

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Abdalla

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

Abdalla 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

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

Meaning and origin of Abdalla

The surname Abdalla originated in the Middle East region during the early medieval period. It is an Arabic name derived from the words 'abd' meaning 'servant' and 'Allah' meaning 'God'. The name is transliterated from the Arabic script as 'Abd Allah' and was likely first used as a descriptive name for those devoted to serving God.

Some of the earliest records of the surname Abdalla can be found in ancient Arabic manuscripts and texts dating back to the 7th century AD. These manuscripts often chronicled the lives and achievements of notable individuals bearing this name during the early Islamic era.

One of the most famous historical figures with the surname Abdalla was Abdullah ibn Abbas (618-687 AD), a revered scholar and companion of the Prophet Muhammad. He was known for his expertise in interpreting the Quran and his teachings were widely respected throughout the Islamic world.

Another notable individual was Abdallah ibn al-Muqaffa (720-756 AD), a renowned writer and translator from Persia who played a significant role in the translation of ancient Persian literature into Arabic.

During the medieval period, the surname Abdalla spread across various regions of the Middle East and North Africa as Islamic culture and trade routes expanded. It can be found in historical records from areas such as Egypt, Syria, and Morocco, where variations in spelling and pronunciation emerged.

One of the earliest examples of the surname Abdalla in a place name can be found in the city of Abdalla, located in modern-day Sudan. This city was named after a local ruler or prominent figure with the surname Abdalla during the 16th century.

In the 19th century, Abdallah ibn Muhammad al-Sanjari (1806-1851) was a prominent Islamic scholar and reformer from Morocco who advocated for religious and educational reforms in the region.

Throughout history, the surname Abdalla has been borne by various religious leaders, scholars, and influential figures within the Islamic world, reflecting its deep-rooted connection to the Arabic language and culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Abdalla surname: questions and answers

How common is the Abdalla surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 898 in 2016. That gives Abdalla a modern rank of #6,312.

What does the Abdalla surname mean?

Derived from the Arabic name Abdullah, meaning "servant of Allah" or "servant of God."

What does the Abdalla map show?

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