NameCensus.

UK surname

Abdulla

Servant or worshipper of Allah (God), derived from the Arabic name Abdullah.

In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Abdulla surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,128, ranked #5,224, up from #33,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Leicester, Sheffield and Cardiff.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Abdulla is 1,133 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 56300.0%.

1881 census count

2

Ranked #33,721

Modern count

1,128

2016, ranked #5,224

Peak year

2014

1,133 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Abdulla had 2 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,128 in 2016, ranked #5,224.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 9 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Abdulla surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Abdulla surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Abdulla 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 3 #33,861
1881 historical 2 #33,721
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1911 historical 9 #32,754
1997 modern 475 #9,676
1998 modern 503 #9,547
1999 modern 558 #8,885
2000 modern 568 #8,717
2001 modern 589 #8,405
2002 modern 654 #7,907
2003 modern 688 #7,485
2004 modern 725 #7,191
2005 modern 781 #6,729
2006 modern 818 #6,500
2007 modern 884 #6,169
2008 modern 932 #5,976
2009 modern 1,017 #5,686
2010 modern 1,107 #5,404
2011 modern 1,076 #5,471
2012 modern 1,092 #5,326
2013 modern 1,123 #5,285
2014 modern 1,133 #5,276
2015 modern 1,126 #5,244
2016 modern 1,128 #5,224

Geography

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Where Abdullas 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, Sheffield and Cardiff. 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 Sheffield 022 Sheffield
3 Leicester 027 Leicester
4 Leicester 022 Leicester
5 Cardiff 049 Cardiff

Forenames

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First names often paired with Abdulla

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Abdulla

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

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Abdulla 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

Abdulla 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

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

Meaning and origin of Abdulla

The surname Abdulla originated from the Arabic name Abdullah, which means "servant of Allah" or "servant of God." It is a common surname found predominantly among Muslims in the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of South Asia.

The earliest known usage of the name Abdulla can be traced back to the 7th century AD, during the time of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The name gained prominence as Islam spread across the Arabian Peninsula and beyond, and it became a popular name among Muslims to express their devotion to God.

The name Abdulla has been found in various historical records and manuscripts throughout the centuries. One notable example is the mention of Abdullah ibn Abbas, a companion of Prophet Muhammad and a renowned scholar of the Quran, who lived from 619 to 687 AD.

In the 10th century, the name was recorded in the writings of the famous Arab historian and traveler, Al-Masudi, who mentioned several individuals with the surname Abdulla in his chronicles.

During the Ottoman Empire, which ruled parts of the Middle East and North Africa from the 14th to the 20th century, the name Abdulla was widely used among the Muslim population. One notable figure was Abdulla Pasha, an Ottoman statesman and governor of Tripoli, Libya, who lived in the 18th century.

In the Indian subcontinent, the name Abdulla gained popularity among Muslim communities during the Mughal Empire, which ruled from the 16th to the 19th century. One prominent figure was Abdulla Khan Firuz Jang, a Mughal nobleman and military commander who lived in the 18th century.

Other notable individuals with the surname Abdulla include:

1. Abdulla Al-Qasemi, a 19th-century Arab poet and writer from Palestine. 2. Abdulla Al-Badri, a 20th-century Iraqi politician and prime minister of Iraq from 1949 to 1950. 3. Abdulla Al-Salim Al-Sabah, a member of the Kuwaiti royal family and former crown prince of Kuwait, who lived from 1895 to 1965. 4. Abdulla Yusuf Ali, an Indian-born Islamic scholar and translator of the Quran, who lived from 1872 to 1953. 5. Abdulla Zahir, an Afghan writer and poet who lived in the 20th century.

The surname Abdulla has been found in various forms and spellings throughout history, such as Abdullah, Abdallah, and Abdoellah, reflecting regional variations and linguistic influences.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Abdulla families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Abdulla 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. Royal Navy leads with 2 Abdullas recorded in 1881 and an index of 571.43x.

County Total Index
Royal Navy 2 571.43x
Essex 1 17.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. East Ham in Essex leads with 1 Abdullas recorded in 1881 and an index of 909.09x.

Place Total Index
East Ham 1 909.09x

FAQ

Abdulla surname: questions and answers

How common was the Abdulla surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2 people were recorded with the Abdulla surname. That placed it at #33,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Abdulla surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,128 in 2016. That gives Abdulla a modern rank of #5,224.

What does the Abdulla surname mean?

Servant or worshipper of Allah (God), derived from the Arabic name Abdullah.

What does the Abdulla map show?

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