NameCensus.

UK surname

Abrams

A patronymic surname derived from the given name Abraham, meaning "father of multitudes" in Hebrew.

In the 1881 census there were 741 people recorded with the Abrams surname, ranking it #4,949 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,102, ranked #5,336, down from #4,949 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Manchester and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Liverpool, Rochford and South Holland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Abrams is 1,108 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 48.7%.

1881 census count

741

Ranked #4,949

Modern count

1,102

2016, ranked #5,336

Peak year

2013

1,108 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Abrams had 741 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,949 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,102 in 2016, ranked #5,336.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,075 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Abrams surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Abrams surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Abrams 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 348 #6,765
1861 historical 414 #6,200
1881 historical 741 #4,949
1891 historical 782 #5,134
1901 historical 968 #4,866
1911 historical 1,075 #4,314
1997 modern 1,062 #5,227
1998 modern 1,092 #5,295
1999 modern 1,104 #5,273
2000 modern 1,092 #5,300
2001 modern 1,072 #5,280
2002 modern 1,083 #5,342
2003 modern 1,063 #5,325
2004 modern 1,073 #5,297
2005 modern 1,060 #5,295
2006 modern 1,058 #5,302
2007 modern 1,041 #5,437
2008 modern 1,046 #5,443
2009 modern 1,086 #5,373
2010 modern 1,107 #5,404
2011 modern 1,079 #5,460
2012 modern 1,085 #5,350
2013 modern 1,108 #5,338
2014 modern 1,104 #5,382
2015 modern 1,100 #5,351
2016 modern 1,102 #5,336

Geography

Back to top

Where Abrams' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Manchester, Lambeth, St John Hackney and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Liverpool, Rochford and South Holland. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Lambeth London (South Districts)
4 St John Hackney London (North Districts)
5 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Liverpool 047 Liverpool
2 Rochford 003 Rochford
3 South Holland 010 South Holland
4 South Holland 007 South Holland
5 South Holland 006 South Holland

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Abrams

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Abrams

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Abrams surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Abrams 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Abrams 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

Abrams 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

Abrams falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Abrams is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Abrams

The surname Abrams is of English origin and can be traced back to the 12th century. It derives from the medieval given name Abraham, which was originally a Hebrew name meaning "father of many". The surname likely began as a patronymic, referring to the son of Abraham.

In early records, the name appeared with various spellings, such as Abram, Abarams, and Abrahams. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Pipe Rolls of Sussex from 1195, which mention a William Abram. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also include references to individuals with the name Abram.

The Abrams surname is linked to several places in England, including Abrams in Lancashire and Abrams Farm in Cambridgeshire. These place names likely influenced the spelling variations of the surname over time.

Notable individuals with the surname Abrams throughout history include:

1. Murial Abrams (c. 1512-1580), an English landowner and benefactor from Cambridgeshire. 2. Sir Thomas Abrams (1612-1685), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament. 3. John Abrams (1677-1744), an English architect and builder who designed several churches in London. 4. Sarah Abrams (1740-1820), a British Quaker minister and writer known for her religious works. 5. Leroy Abrams (1892-1956), an American jazz drummer and bandleader active in the early 20th century.

While the surname Abrams has roots in medieval England, it has since spread to various parts of the world through migration and has become a globally recognized name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Abrams families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Abrams 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. Middlesex leads with 162 Abrams' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.24x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 162 2.24x
Lancashire 72 0.84x
Essex 71 4.98x
Bedfordshire 58 15.50x
Yorkshire 51 0.71x
Surrey 46 1.31x
Wiltshire 33 5.16x
Hampshire 31 2.09x
Buckinghamshire 27 6.18x
Kent 24 0.97x
Northamptonshire 20 2.94x
Hertfordshire 18 3.61x
Cheshire 15 0.94x
Somerset 12 1.03x
Devon 9 0.60x
Derbyshire 8 0.71x
Lanarkshire 8 0.34x
Gloucestershire 7 0.49x
Lincolnshire 7 0.61x
Pembrokeshire 7 3.05x
Oxfordshire 6 1.34x
Durham 5 0.23x
Huntingdonshire 5 3.48x
Leicestershire 5 0.62x
Shropshire 4 0.64x
Staffordshire 4 0.16x
Cornwall 3 0.37x
Denbighshire 3 1.10x
Monmouthshire 3 0.57x
Sussex 3 0.25x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.44x
Glamorgan 2 0.16x
Midlothian 2 0.21x
Orkney 2 2.52x
Royal Navy 2 2.32x
Berkshire 1 0.18x
Isle of Man 1 0.75x
Suffolk 1 0.11x
Worcestershire 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Luton in Bedfordshire leads with 33 Abrams' recorded in 1881 and an index of 50.93x.

Place Total Index
Luton 33 50.93x
Manchester 22 5.70x
Camberwell 19 4.12x
Hackney London 19 4.69x
Gestingthorpe 18 1132.08x
Bromley London 17 10.69x
St George In East London 17 25.00x
Clavering 15 581.40x
Harpenden 15 197.37x
Mile End Old Town London 14 9.10x
Hornsey 12 13.13x
Lambeth 12 1.90x
Trowbridge 12 42.46x
Wycombe 12 36.83x
Leeds 11 2.72x
Portsea 11 3.79x
Runcorn 11 29.90x
Whitechapel London 11 15.44x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 10 40.82x
Halstead 9 54.09x
Salford 9 3.57x
Toxteth Park 9 3.10x
Paddington London 8 3.01x
Shoreditch London 8 2.55x
Tottenham 8 6.95x
Upton Cum Chalvey 8 45.95x
Clevedon 7 57.85x
Colne Engaine 7 542.64x
Hindley 7 19.14x
Milford 7 204.68x
Whittington 7 44.70x
York St Michael Le 7 301.72x
Basingstoke 6 35.21x
Bristol St George 6 9.15x
Bromham 6 740.74x
Calne 6 45.59x
Chrishall 6 422.54x
Govan 6 1.04x
Southcoates 6 15.09x
Woodford 6 158.73x
Alverstoke 5 9.32x
Beckenham 5 15.51x
Bermondsey 5 2.32x
Leicester St Margaret 5 2.56x
Lydiate 5 187.27x
Melksham 5 45.05x
Pertenhall 5 602.41x
Romford 5 22.16x
Shelton 5 1351.35x
St Luke London 5 4.31x
St Marylebone London 5 1.30x
St Pancras London 5 0.86x
Wendover 5 106.16x
Wingate 5 33.92x
Aldershot 4 8.06x
Bedford St Mary 4 41.49x
Bethnal Green London 4 1.27x
Castleford 4 15.34x
Headingley Cum Burley 4 8.67x
Horninglow 4 34.81x
Kensington London 4 1.00x
Madeley 4 17.47x
Margate St John Baptist 4 8.86x
Methley 4 39.64x
Newington 4 1.50x
Northampton All Sts 4 17.34x
Pinchbeck 4 53.98x
Pwllcrochan 4 851.06x
Radstock 4 52.29x
Shadwell London 4 19.77x
Stoke Damerel 4 3.80x
Tormoham 4 6.28x
West Ham 4 1.27x
Angle 3 265.49x
Bedwellty 3 3.25x
Bersham 3 25.75x
Islington London 3 0.43x
Northampton St Giles 3 11.58x
Poplar London 3 2.20x
Woodwalton 3 428.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 56
Elizabeth 20
Sarah 19
Emma 18
Alice 17
Ann 15
Emily 14
Annie 13
Eliza 12
Jane 11
Martha 10
Fanny 9
Ellen 8
Hannah 7
Harriet 7
Ada 6
Florence 6
Louisa 5
Maria 5
Anne 4
Frances 4
Margaret 4
Rose 4
Anna 3
Catherine 3
Clara 3
Edith 3
Julia 3
Kate 3
Lucy 3
Rosa 3
Susan 3
Abigail 2
Agnes 2
Elizth. 2
Ester 2
Esther 2
Isabella 2
Laura 2
Leah 2
Lydia 2
Marie 2
Phoebe 2
Selina 2
Betsy 1
Caroline 1
Eleanor 1
Eliz. 1
Helena 1
Tryphena 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 44
John 40
George 23
James 22
Thomas 17
Henry 15
Charles 14
Samuel 11
Edward 9
Harry 9
Joseph 9
Alfred 8
Arthur 8
Walter 8
Frederick 6
Richard 5
Wm. 5
Albert 4
Isaac 4
Francis 3
G. 3
Herbert 3
Lewis 3
Abram 2
Chas. 2
David 2
Edwin 2
Fred 2
Nathan 2
Ralph 2
Sidney 2
Thos. 2
Bertie 1
C. 1
Chas.E. 1
Elias 1
Elijah 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Fredk. 1
Geo 1
Geo. 1
Jeremiah 1
Jno.E. 1
Joe 1
Johny 1
Julian 1
L.J. 1
Larry 1
Lawerance 1

FAQ

Abrams surname: questions and answers

How common was the Abrams surname in 1881?

In 1881, 741 people were recorded with the Abrams surname. That placed it at #4,949 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Abrams surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,102 in 2016. That gives Abrams a modern rank of #5,336.

What does the Abrams surname mean?

A patronymic surname derived from the given name Abraham, meaning "father of multitudes" in Hebrew.

What does the Abrams map show?

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