NameCensus.

UK surname

Adlem

In the 1881 census there were 115 people recorded with the Adlem surname, ranking it #18,230 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 268, ranked #16,003, up from #18,230 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tollard Royal, Poole St James and Canford Magna. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Dorset, East Dorset and Tendring.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Adlem is 305 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 133.0%.

1881 census count

115

Ranked #18,230

Modern count

268

2016, ranked #16,003

Peak year

1999

305 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Adlem had 115 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,230 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 268 in 2016, ranked #16,003.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 190 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Adlem surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Adlem surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Adlem 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 60 #22,584
1861 historical 79 #23,702
1881 historical 115 #18,230
1891 historical 131 #20,073
1901 historical 142 #18,633
1911 historical 190 #15,438
1997 modern 286 #13,942
1998 modern 298 #13,937
1999 modern 305 #13,808
2000 modern 305 #13,769
2001 modern 294 #13,896
2002 modern 295 #14,146
2003 modern 295 #13,964
2004 modern 289 #14,219
2005 modern 285 #14,273
2006 modern 281 #14,500
2007 modern 288 #14,428
2008 modern 284 #14,687
2009 modern 286 #14,910
2010 modern 284 #15,312
2011 modern 274 #15,571
2012 modern 268 #15,745
2013 modern 279 #15,574
2014 modern 283 #15,495
2015 modern 278 #15,586
2016 modern 268 #16,003

Geography

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Where Adlems are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tollard Royal, Poole St James, Canford Magna, Todber and Ilkeston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Dorset, East Dorset, Tendring and West Berkshire. 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 Tollard Royal Wiltshire
2 Poole St James Dorset
3 Canford Magna Dorset
4 Todber Dorset
5 Ilkeston Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Dorset 007 North Dorset
2 North Dorset 003 North Dorset
3 East Dorset 001 East Dorset
4 Tendring 003 Tendring
5 West Berkshire 010 West Berkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Adlem

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Adlem

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Adlem, 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 Adlem surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Adlem 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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Adlem is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

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

Adlem is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Adlem falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Adlem is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

1881 census detail

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Adlem families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Adlem 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. Dorset leads with 32 Adlems recorded in 1881 and an index of 43.46x.

County Total Index
Dorset 32 43.46x
Hampshire 27 11.74x
Wiltshire 27 27.22x
Middlesex 9 0.80x
Somerset 9 4.98x
Yorkshire 8 0.72x
Devon 2 0.86x
Glamorgan 1 0.51x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Exton in Hampshire leads with 15 Adlems recorded in 1881 and an index of 13636.36x.

Place Total Index
Exton 15 13636.36x
Tollard Royal 14 12727.27x
Berwick St John 12 8000.00x
Kinson 12 833.33x
Southampton St Mary 11 76.07x
Ashmore 9 8181.82x
Wensley 7 5833.33x
Durweston 5 3571.43x
Frome 5 115.74x
St Marylebone London 5 8.35x
Tarrant Crawford 4 20000.00x
Islington London 3 2.76x
Down St Mary 2 1666.67x
Taunton St James 2 76.05x
Bordley 1 5000.00x
Holdenhurst 1 16.58x
Meare 1 185.19x
Poole St James 1 36.10x
Shaftesbury St Peter 1 294.12x
St Andrew Holborn London 1 20.58x
Wardour 1 344.83x
West Monkton 1 250.00x
Ystradyfodwg 1 5.84x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Adlem surname: questions and answers

How common was the Adlem surname in 1881?

In 1881, 115 people were recorded with the Adlem surname. That placed it at #18,230 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Adlem surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 268 in 2016. That gives Adlem a modern rank of #16,003.

What does the Adlem map show?

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