NameCensus.

UK surname

Adan

A Spanish surname derived from the given name Adam, which originated from the Hebrew name meaning "man" or "mankind."

In the 1881 census there were 16 people recorded with the Adan surname, ranking it #31,301 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 697, ranked #7,728, up from #31,301 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Adan is 697 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 4256.3%.

1881 census count

16

Ranked #31,301

Modern count

697

2016, ranked #7,728

Peak year

2016

697 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Adan had 16 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,301 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 697 in 2016, ranked #7,728.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 42 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Adan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Adan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Adan 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 35 #27,037
1861 historical 42 #28,691
1881 historical 16 #31,301
1891 historical 24 #32,320
1901 historical 32 #30,501
1911 historical 10 #32,609
1997 modern 123 #23,792
1998 modern 132 #23,394
1999 modern 143 #22,521
2000 modern 158 #21,055
2001 modern 157 #20,884
2002 modern 185 #19,212
2003 modern 205 #17,851
2004 modern 257 #15,419
2005 modern 310 #13,518
2006 modern 362 #12,151
2007 modern 388 #11,630
2008 modern 429 #10,850
2009 modern 485 #10,090
2010 modern 544 #9,430
2011 modern 548 #9,300
2012 modern 619 #8,387
2013 modern 645 #8,264
2014 modern 675 #8,007
2015 modern 695 #7,756
2016 modern 697 #7,728

Geography

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Where Adans 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 Tower Hamlets, Cardiff, Liverpool and Sheffield. 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 Tower Hamlets 003 Tower Hamlets
2 Cardiff 049 Cardiff
3 Cardiff 044 Cardiff
4 Liverpool 039 Liverpool
5 Sheffield 022 Sheffield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Adan

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

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

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Adan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Adan 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

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, Adan 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

Adan 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

Adan 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 Adan 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
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Adan

The surname ADAN has its origins in the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in the regions of Spain and Portugal. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, when these areas were under the influence of Arabic culture due to the Moorish conquest.

The name ADAN is derived from the Arabic name "Adan," which itself is a variation of the Hebrew name "Adán," meaning "of the earth" or "earthly." This connection suggests that the surname may have been initially adopted by individuals of Arabic or Semitic descent who lived in the Iberian region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname ADAN can be found in the "Libro de las Behetrías" (Book of Landholdings), a 14th-century Castilian document that cataloged land tenure and ownership. This document mentions several individuals bearing the surname ADAN, indicating that the name was already well-established by that time.

Throughout the centuries, the surname ADAN has been associated with numerous notable figures. One of the earliest was Álvaro Núñez de Adan, a 13th-century nobleman from the Kingdom of León. Another prominent individual was Juan de Adan, a 15th-century Catholic bishop and diplomat who served as the ambassador of the Catholic Monarchs to the Holy See.

In the realm of literature, the surname ADAN is perhaps most famously associated with Martín de Adan, a 16th-century Spanish poet and playwright. His works, such as the pastoral drama "El Cortesano" (The Courtier), are considered important examples of Renaissance literature in Spain.

Moving forward in time, one cannot overlook the contributions of Enrique Adan y Ricart (1834-1922), a Spanish painter and engraver renowned for his landscapes and portraits. His works are part of the collections of several prestigious museums, including the Museo del Prado in Madrid.

Another notable figure was José María Adan de Yarza (1904-1993), a Spanish architect and urban planner who played a significant role in the reconstruction and urban development of various cities in Spain during the mid-20th century.

While the surname ADAN has deep roots in the Iberian Peninsula, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora. Individuals bearing this surname can be found in various countries, particularly those with strong historical ties to Spain and Portugal, such as Latin American nations and former Spanish colonies.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Adan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Adan 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. Aberdeenshire leads with 11 Adans recorded in 1881 and an index of 81.30x.

County Total Index
Aberdeenshire 11 81.30x
Somerset 3 12.76x
Channel Islands 1 23.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aberdeen Old Machar in Aberdeenshire leads with 7 Adans recorded in 1881 and an index of 248.23x.

Place Total Index
Aberdeen Old Machar 7 248.23x
Kemnay 4 5000.00x
Bradford 3 15000.00x
St Helier 1 70.92x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 1
Florence 1
Marie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Hugh 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Adan households.

FAQ

Adan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Adan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 16 people were recorded with the Adan surname. That placed it at #31,301 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Adan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 697 in 2016. That gives Adan a modern rank of #7,728.

What does the Adan surname mean?

A Spanish surname derived from the given name Adam, which originated from the Hebrew name meaning "man" or "mankind."

What does the Adan map show?

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