UK surname

Abdulai

A surname of African origin, likely indicating the person is a servant or worshipper of Allah (God).

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Abdulai is 111 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

Modern count

106

2016, ranked #29,927

Peak year

2015

111 bearers

Map years

2016 to 2016

Key insights

• The latest modern count shown here is 106 in 2016, ranked #29,927.
• The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Map

Abdulai surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Abdulai surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Year

Loading map

Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Abdulai 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
1997	modern	43	#33,361
1998	modern	44	#33,462
1999	modern	44	#33,601
2000	modern	41	#33,889
2001	modern	42	#33,658
2002	modern	48	#33,459
2003	modern	51	#33,266
2004	modern	63	#32,380
2005	modern	81	#30,740
2006	modern	89	#30,027
2007	modern	84	#31,067
2008	modern	88	#30,857
2009	modern	87	#31,489
2010	modern	95	#31,000
2011	modern	99	#30,218
2012	modern	97	#30,798
2013	modern	103	#30,235
2014	modern	110	#29,294
2015	modern	111	#28,986
2016	modern	106	#29,927

Geography

Where Abdulais 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 Stevenage, Newham, Southwark, Barnet and Bromley. 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	Stevenage 006	Stevenage
2	Newham 027	Newham
3	Southwark 021	Southwark
4	Barnet 032	Barnet
5	Bromley 020	Bromley

Forenames

First names often paired with Abdulai

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Recent female names

Josephine Grace Mary Isata Mariam Temitope Jamila Hamida Zainab Mildred

Recent male names

Adam Ibrahim Ahmed Abdul Musa Raymond Wesley Alhaji Mohammed Abu

Modern profile

Neighbourhood profile for Abdulai

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

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Abdulai surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Abdulai 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 younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Abdulai 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

Abdulai 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.

Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Abdulai 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.

More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Abdulai is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

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

Origin

Meaning and origin of Abdulai

The surname ABDULAI is of Ghanaian origin, derived from the personal name Abdul, which in turn is derived from the Arabic عَبْد الله (ʿabd-ullāh), meaning "servant of Allah". This name was likely introduced to Ghana through Islamic influence and trade networks during the medieval period.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname ABDULAI can be traced back to the 17th century, where it appears in historical records from the Ashanti Empire, a powerful kingdom that dominated much of present-day Ghana. The name was initially associated with individuals who had embraced Islam or had Muslim ancestry.

One notable historical figure with the surname ABDULAI was Nana Abdulai, a prominent chief and military leader of the Ashanti Empire in the late 18th century. He played a crucial role in defending the empire against British colonial attempts to subjugate the region.

Another significant figure was Abdulai Iddrisu, a renowned Islamic scholar and teacher who lived in the early 19th century. He established several Quranic schools and contributed significantly to the spread of Islamic education in Ghana.

In the late 19th century, Abdulai Mahama emerged as a prominent figure in the resistance against British colonial rule. He led a series of uprisings and campaigns against the British forces, becoming a symbol of Ghanaian resistance and independence.

During the 20th century, the surname ABDULAI gained wider recognition in Ghana, with several notable individuals bearing the name. One such individual was Alhaji Abdulai Ibrahim, a influential businessman and philanthropist who founded the Alhaji Abdulai Ibrahim Foundation, dedicated to promoting education and social welfare in Ghana.

Another prominent figure was Alhaji Abdulai Adam, a renowned diplomat who served as Ghana's ambassador to several countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, in the latter half of the 20th century.

While the surname ABDULAI has its roots in Islamic tradition, it has become firmly established as a part of Ghanaian culture and identity, transcending religious boundaries and embraced by people of diverse backgrounds.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Abdulai surname: questions and answers

How common is the Abdulai surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 106 in 2016. That gives Abdulai a modern rank of #29,927.

What does the Abdulai surname mean?