NameCensus.

UK surname

Adem

A Turkish surname derived from the Arabic name Adam, meaning "man" or "mankind."

In the 1881 census there were 3 people recorded with the Adem surname, ranking it #33,498 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 214, ranked #18,740, up from #33,498 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Waltham Forest, Hammersmith and Fulham and Enfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Adem is 214 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 7033.3%.

1881 census count

3

Ranked #33,498

Modern count

214

2016, ranked #18,740

Peak year

2016

214 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • Adem had 3 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,498 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 214 in 2016, ranked #18,740.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 20 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Adem surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Adem surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Adem 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 20 #31,364
1881 historical 3 #33,498
1891 historical 4 #34,098
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1997 modern 73 #30,306
1998 modern 91 #28,806
1999 modern 83 #29,823
2000 modern 85 #29,598
2001 modern 82 #29,714
2002 modern 100 #27,944
2003 modern 105 #26,940
2004 modern 110 #26,451
2005 modern 111 #26,260
2006 modern 133 #23,711
2007 modern 146 #22,596
2008 modern 155 #21,956
2009 modern 164 #21,628
2010 modern 180 #20,812
2011 modern 179 #20,732
2012 modern 192 #19,730
2013 modern 200 #19,524
2014 modern 210 #19,064
2015 modern 212 #18,842
2016 modern 214 #18,740

Geography

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Where Adems 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 Waltham Forest, Hammersmith and Fulham, Enfield and Haringey. 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 Waltham Forest 020 Waltham Forest
2 Hammersmith and Fulham 011 Hammersmith and Fulham
3 Enfield 031 Enfield
4 Haringey 030 Haringey
5 Enfield 019 Enfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Adem

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

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Adem 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

Adem 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

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

Meaning and origin of Adem

The surname ADEM has its roots in the Middle East, particularly in the Arabic-speaking regions. It is believed to have originated as a variant of the Arabic name Adam, which finds its origins in the Hebrew name for the Biblical figure Adam.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname ADEM can be traced back to the 10th century in various parts of the Middle East. Some scholars suggest that the name may have initially been a descriptive nickname or a reference to one's physical appearance, alluding to the reddish or earthy complexion associated with the name Adam.

In the 12th century, the surname ADEM appeared in several historical records and manuscripts from the Levant region, including parts of modern-day Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine. It was often associated with prominent families and scholars during the Islamic Golden Age.

One notable figure bearing the surname ADEM was Al-Qadi Adem Al-Dimashqi (1062-1131), a renowned Islamic scholar and jurist from Damascus. His works on Islamic jurisprudence and theology had a significant impact on the intellectual discourse of his time.

As the surname spread across the Middle East and North Africa, it evolved into various spellings and variations, such as Adham, Adhem, and Adhami. In the 13th century, the name appeared in records from the Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt, where it was associated with influential families and individuals.

Another notable bearer of the surname ADEM was Ibn Adem Al-Andalusi (1163-1262), a renowned Andalusian mathematician and astronomer. His contributions to the field of mathematics, particularly in the realm of algebra and trigonometry, were highly influential during the Islamic Golden Age.

In the 16th century, the surname ADEM found its way to parts of the Ottoman Empire, including regions of modern-day Turkey and the Balkans. During this period, the name was associated with scholars, military leaders, and notable figures in Ottoman society.

One such figure was Mehmed Adem Pasha (1550-1616), an Ottoman statesman and military commander who played a significant role in the Ottoman-Safavid War and the Ottoman-Habsburg Wars.

As the centuries passed, the surname ADEM continued to spread across various regions, adapting to local languages and cultures while retaining its Middle Eastern roots. It can be found in diverse communities, including those of Arab, Turkish, and Persian descent, among others.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Adem families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Adem 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 3 Adems recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.75x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 3 31.75x

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 3 Adems recorded in 1881 and an index of 128.21x.

Place Total Index
Govan 3 128.21x

FAQ

Adem surname: questions and answers

How common was the Adem surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3 people were recorded with the Adem surname. That placed it at #33,498 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Adem surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 214 in 2016. That gives Adem a modern rank of #18,740.

What does the Adem surname mean?

A Turkish surname derived from the Arabic name Adam, meaning "man" or "mankind."

What does the Adem map show?

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