NameCensus.

UK surname

Abdul

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "servant of" or "worshiper of," typically followed by one of the names of God.

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Abdul surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,211, ranked #2,932, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Birmingham, Luton and Rochdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Abdul is 2,530 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 221000.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

2,211

2016, ranked #2,932

Peak year

2011

2,530 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Abdul had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,211 in 2016, ranked #2,932.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 8 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Abdul surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Abdul surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Abdul 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
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1891 historical 6 #33,800
1901 historical 3 #34,063
1911 historical 8 #32,903
1997 modern 1,379 #4,189
1998 modern 1,474 #4,113
1999 modern 1,493 #4,108
2000 modern 1,480 #4,106
2001 modern 1,392 #4,239
2002 modern 1,559 #3,951
2003 modern 1,555 #3,872
2004 modern 1,615 #3,741
2005 modern 1,674 #3,591
2006 modern 1,743 #3,475
2007 modern 1,916 #3,233
2008 modern 2,175 #2,910
2009 modern 2,341 #2,790
2010 modern 2,435 #2,754
2011 modern 2,530 #2,645
2012 modern 2,111 #3,032
2013 modern 2,178 #2,994
2014 modern 2,199 #2,986
2015 modern 2,162 #2,999
2016 modern 2,211 #2,932

Geography

Back to top

Where Abduls 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 Birmingham, Luton, Rochdale, Westminster and Oldham. 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 Birmingham 139 Birmingham
2 Luton 017 Luton
3 Rochdale 008 Rochdale
4 Westminster 009 Westminster
5 Oldham 016 Oldham

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Abdul

These lists show first names that appear often with the Abdul 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 Abdul

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

Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students

Nationally, the Abdul surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Abdul household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Married couples with dependent children are common in this Group, with many parents born in Africa or the EU. The representation of residents amongst different ethnic minority groups is high, particularly for individuals of Pakistani ethnic group. For many residents, English is not their main language, and affiliation to Christian religions is less common. Privately rented terrace properties predominate and levels of overcrowding are high. Part time work is common, with many employed in elementary occupations and sales and customer services. There are also many students living within these areas, and overall unemployment levels are high.

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

Challenged Inner London Communities

Within London, Abdul is most associated with areas classed as Challenged Inner London Communities, 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

Resident in some of Inner London’s most over-crowded communities, many families have children and marriage/civil partnership rates are above the Supergroup average. Other adults such as students live in communal establishments. Few residents have Level 4 educational qualifications, levels of unemployment are above the Supergroup average, and employment is concentrated in service occupations such as distribution, hotels and restaurants. Relative to the Supergroup average, fewer residents identify as being of mixed/multiple ethnicities, Black or Other Asian.

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

Abdul 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

Abdul falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Abdul 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 Abdul, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Abdul

The surname "Abdul" originated in the Arab world, specifically in the Arabian Peninsula, during the early Islamic era. It is an Arabic name derived from the root word "abd," which means "servant" or "slave," and is often used in conjunction with one of the names of God, such as "Abdul Rahman" (servant of the Most Merciful).

The earliest records of the name "Abdul" can be traced back to the 7th century CE, when it was commonly used as a name among the Arabs who embraced Islam. The name gained significance during the Islamic conquests, as it spread to various regions of the Middle East, North Africa, and beyond.

One of the earliest notable figures with the surname "Abdul" was Abdul Rahman ibn Awf, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad and one of the early converts to Islam. Born in Mecca around 580 CE, he played a crucial role in the establishment of the Islamic state and is considered one of the ten companions promised paradise.

Another prominent figure was Abdul Malik ibn Marwan, the fifth Umayyad caliph who ruled from 685 to 705 CE. He was instrumental in consolidating the Umayyad dynasty and is credited with establishing Arabic as the official language of the caliphate.

In the realm of science and scholarship, Abdul Qahir al-Jurjani, born in 1009 CE, was a renowned linguist and literary theorist from modern-day Iran. His works, such as "Dala'il al-I'jaz" (Proofs of the Inimitable), made significant contributions to the field of Arabic rhetoric and literary criticism.

During the golden age of Islamic civilization, Abdul Rahman al-Sufi, an influential Persian astronomer and mathematician, lived from 903 to 986 CE. He is best known for his book "Book of Fixed Stars," which provided detailed descriptions and illustrations of various constellations and stars.

In more recent history, Abdul Aziz Al Saud, born in 1876, was the founder of the modern Saudi Arabian state. He united the various tribes of the Arabian Peninsula and established the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932, laying the foundation for the country's current political and economic influence in the region.

It is worth noting that while "Abdul" is primarily associated with the Arabic language and Islamic culture, it has also been adopted and used in various other cultures and regions that have been influenced by or have had interactions with the Arab world throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Abdul families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Abdul 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. Kent leads with 1 Abduls recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.40x.

County Total Index
Kent 1 30.40x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Greenwich in Kent leads with 1 Abduls recorded in 1881 and an index of 666.67x.

Place Total Index
Greenwich 1 666.67x

FAQ

Abdul surname: questions and answers

How common was the Abdul surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Abdul surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Abdul surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,211 in 2016. That gives Abdul a modern rank of #2,932.

What does the Abdul surname mean?

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "servant of" or "worshiper of," typically followed by one of the names of God.

What does the Abdul map show?

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