NameCensus.

UK surname

Adam

A surname derived from the biblical figure Adam, the first man created by God in Abrahamic religions.

In the 1881 census there were 5,145 people recorded with the Adam surname, ranking it #866 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 8,407, ranked #784, up from #866 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Arbroath and St. Vigeans and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bolton, Kirklees and Blackburn with Darwen.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Adam is 8,407 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 63.4%.

1881 census count

5,145

Ranked #866

Modern count

8,407

2016, ranked #784

Peak year

2016

8,407 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Adam had 5,145 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #866 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 8,407 in 2016, ranked #784.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5,810 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Adam surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Adam surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Adam 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 4,589 #610
1861 historical 5,147 #545
1881 historical 5,145 #866
1891 historical 5,810 #811
1901 historical 5,547 #1,005
1911 historical 1,288 #3,695
1997 modern 6,159 #1,068
1998 modern 6,402 #1,068
1999 modern 6,449 #1,065
2000 modern 6,507 #1,053
2001 modern 6,289 #1,061
2002 modern 6,535 #1,045
2003 modern 6,577 #1,007
2004 modern 6,731 #983
2005 modern 6,927 #939
2006 modern 7,062 #922
2007 modern 7,258 #902
2008 modern 7,412 #890
2009 modern 7,656 #883
2010 modern 7,866 #878
2011 modern 7,754 #874
2012 modern 7,833 #839
2013 modern 8,023 #831
2014 modern 8,223 #814
2015 modern 8,261 #800
2016 modern 8,407 #784

Geography

Back to top

Where Adams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Arbroath and St. Vigeans, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bolton, Kirklees, Blackburn with Darwen and Leicester. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Arbroath and St. Vigeans Forfar
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bolton 011 Bolton
2 Kirklees 024 Kirklees
3 Blackburn with Darwen 004 Blackburn with Darwen
4 Blackburn with Darwen 006 Blackburn with Darwen
5 Leicester 017 Leicester

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Adam

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Adam

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Adam is most associated with areas classed as Young Asian Family Terraces, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These households with dependent children typically live in terraced housing and are of (non-Chinese) Asian extraction. Individuals with Bangladeshi origins are particularly in evidence. Employment is often in elementary occupations or as process, plant or machine operatives, and part-time work is common. Students are much in evidence.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Adam 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

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

Meaning and origin of Adam

The surname Adam originated in England and is believed to have been derived from the given name Adam, which has Hebrew roots meaning "man" or "earth." The earliest recorded use of the surname can be traced back to the late 12th century in Norfolk, England.

One of the earliest known references to the surname Adam can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1195, where a Walter Adam is mentioned. The name also appeared in the Curia Regis Rolls of Berkshire in 1208, with a record of a William Adam.

The surname Adam is thought to have been initially used as a descriptive name, referring to the first man in the biblical story of creation. Over time, it evolved into a hereditary surname passed down from generation to generation.

In the 13th century, the surname Adam was found in various parts of England, including Yorkshire, where a John Adam was recorded in the Yorkshire Assize Rolls of 1219. The name was also present in Oxfordshire, with a record of a Roger Adam in the Oxfordshire Hundred Rolls of 1273.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname Adam was Sir John Adam, a Scottish knight who lived in the late 13th and early 14th centuries. He fought alongside William Wallace during the Scottish Wars of Independence against England.

Another notable figure was Clement Adam, a 16th-century English clergyman and academic who served as the President of Magdalen College, Oxford, from 1512 to 1520.

In the 17th century, Robert Adam, a Scottish architect and designer, made significant contributions to the neoclassical style. He was born in 1728 and is best known for his work on buildings such as the Adelphi Terrace in London and the University of Edinburgh's Old College.

The 18th century saw the rise of John Adam, a Scottish philosopher and author who lived from 1728 to 1792. He is known for his works on moral philosophy and political economy.

In the 19th century, Juliette Adam, a French writer and feminist, made her mark. Born in 1836, she founded the influential magazine La Nouvelle Revue and advocated for women's rights and education.

Throughout history, the surname Adam has been found in various spellings, including Adame, Adem, and Adeyn, reflecting regional variations and linguistic influences. However, the modern spelling of Adam has become the most commonly recognized form.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Adam families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Adam 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. Lanarkshire leads with 904 Adams recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.57x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 904 5.57x
Aberdeenshire 706 15.19x
Renfrewshire 677 17.41x
Angus 569 12.24x
Stirlingshire 260 14.05x
Midlothian 230 3.42x
Fife 176 5.92x
Middlesex 175 0.35x
Kincardineshire 143 23.40x
Ayrshire 137 3.65x
Perthshire 130 5.77x
Banffshire 108 10.38x
Lancashire 94 0.16x
Surrey 81 0.33x
Morayshire 63 8.08x
Yorkshire 59 0.12x
Dunbartonshire 56 4.15x
Kent 52 0.30x
Durham 45 0.30x
Northumberland 35 0.47x
West Lothian 35 4.63x
Warwickshire 34 0.27x
Glamorgan 25 0.29x
Channel Islands 20 1.35x
Essex 20 0.20x
Worcestershire 19 0.29x
Ross-shire 18 1.31x
Sussex 18 0.21x
Buteshire 16 5.26x
Hampshire 16 0.16x
Argyllshire 14 1.00x
Lincolnshire 14 0.17x
Suffolk 14 0.23x
Cheshire 13 0.12x
Huntingdonshire 11 1.10x
Roxburghshire 10 1.10x
Dumfriesshire 9 0.81x
Leicestershire 9 0.16x
Staffordshire 9 0.05x
Devon 8 0.08x
Nairnshire 8 5.22x
Peeblesshire 8 3.39x
Inverness-shire 7 0.47x
Nottinghamshire 7 0.10x
Royal Navy 7 1.17x
Caithness 6 0.87x
Cumberland 6 0.14x
Derbyshire 5 0.06x
Norfolk 5 0.06x
Northamptonshire 5 0.11x
Wiltshire 5 0.11x
Kinross-shire 4 3.15x
Wigtownshire 4 0.60x
Cambridgeshire 3 0.09x
Clackmannanshire 3 0.72x
Gloucestershire 3 0.03x
Montgomeryshire 3 0.26x
Shropshire 3 0.07x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.07x
Denbighshire 2 0.11x
Flintshire 2 0.15x
Hertfordshire 2 0.06x
Rutland 2 0.54x
Somerset 2 0.02x
Berkshire 1 0.03x
Berwickshire 1 0.16x
Cornwall 1 0.02x
Dorset 1 0.03x
Oxfordshire 1 0.03x
Radnorshire 1 0.25x
Selkirkshire 1 0.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 295 Adams recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.35x.

Place Total Index
Govan 295 7.35x
Barony 209 5.09x
Abbey 199 33.54x
Dundee 194 11.18x
Aberdeen Old Machar 171 17.62x
Glasgow 159 5.52x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 104 3.85x
Paisley High Church 98 31.65x
Paisley Middle Church 94 41.52x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 83 9.55x
Denny 66 67.05x
St Ninians 66 35.98x
Liff Benvie 65 9.21x
Kilmarnock 63 14.09x
Bothwell 62 14.09x
Falkirk 57 13.16x
West Greenock 57 8.17x
Paisley Low Church 55 44.68x
Dunnottar 52 120.96x
Arbroath 50 32.45x
Monymusk 50 251.13x
Forfar 49 19.47x
Brechin 38 20.80x
St Vigeans 36 14.35x
South Leith 35 4.63x
Marnoch 30 53.68x
Chapel Of Garioch 29 87.72x
Shotts 29 14.93x
Renfrew 28 21.81x
Eastwood 27 11.27x
Cathcart 26 12.36x
New Monkland 26 5.42x
Dunfermline 25 5.47x
Lambeth 25 0.57x
East Greenock 24 6.54x
Islington London 24 0.49x
Markinch 24 23.80x
Heaton Norris 23 6.79x
Auchterderran 22 29.46x
Kemnay 22 78.10x
Old Monkland 22 3.42x
Alyth 21 34.64x
Auchtermuchty 21 52.63x
Cargill 21 89.55x
Echt 21 93.83x
Newhills 21 22.07x
Stirling 21 9.00x
Edinburgh St Stephens 20 15.11x
Battersea 19 1.03x
Inverkip 19 20.73x
Midmar 19 105.97x
Alford 18 71.15x
Forgue 18 43.12x
Hackney London 18 0.64x
Laurencekirk 18 50.85x
St Peter Port 18 6.54x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 17 2.63x
Kincardine O Neil 17 51.22x
Kirriemuir 17 14.82x
Larbert 17 15.37x
Lesmahagow 17 9.91x
Maryhill 17 5.35x
Fetteresso 16 16.71x
Kilsyth 16 13.56x
Banchory Ternan 15 28.39x
Banff 15 16.59x
Drumblade 15 91.24x
Fyvie 15 19.78x
Lanark 15 11.49x
St Monance 15 42.29x
Aston 14 0.40x
Camberwell 14 0.44x
Huntly 14 18.52x
Leeds 14 0.50x
Lintrathen 14 126.81x
Montrose 14 4.97x
St Pancras London 14 0.35x
Strachan 14 117.45x
Uphall 14 16.85x
North Leith 13 4.18x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 46
William 40
James 37
George 23
Thomas 18
Charles 16
Robert 16
Henry 15
Arthur 12
Edward 11
Joseph 10
Alexander 9
David 9
Alfred 7
Frank 5
Frederick 5
Wm. 4
Abraham 3
Benjamin 3
Hugh 3
Albert 2
Andrew 2
Francis 2
Fredk. 2
Geo. 2
Harry 2
Laurence 2
Martin 2
Mathew 2
Peter 2
Robt. 2
Roland 2
Ronald 2
Samuel 2
Stephen 2
Thos. 2
Alex. 1
Amos 1
Christo 1
Clement 1
Dan 1
Daniel 1
Donald 1
Edgar 1
Edmund 1
Gosman 1
Harold 1
Henery 1
Herbert 1
Wm.Henry 1

FAQ

Adam surname: questions and answers

How common was the Adam surname in 1881?

In 1881, 5,145 people were recorded with the Adam surname. That placed it at #866 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Adam surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 8,407 in 2016. That gives Adam a modern rank of #784.

What does the Adam surname mean?

A surname derived from the biblical figure Adam, the first man created by God in Abrahamic religions.

What does the Adam map show?

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