NameCensus.

UK surname

Akam

A surname of Hebrew origin meaning "one who presses or squeezes," referring to an occupation such as a winemaker.

In the 1881 census there were 105 people recorded with the Akam surname, ranking it #19,183 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 164, ranked #22,314, down from #19,183 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St John Hackney and St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Riding of Yorkshire, Brighton and Hove and Breckland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Akam is 170 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 56.2%.

1881 census count

105

Ranked #19,183

Modern count

164

2016, ranked #22,314

Peak year

2010

170 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Akam had 105 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,183 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 164 in 2016, ranked #22,314.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 131 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Akam surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Akam surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Akam 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 44 #25,328
1861 historical 65 #25,618
1881 historical 105 #19,183
1891 historical 100 #24,045
1901 historical 124 #20,163
1911 historical 131 #19,404
1997 modern 148 #21,295
1998 modern 152 #21,481
1999 modern 151 #21,740
2000 modern 151 #21,684
2001 modern 144 #22,040
2002 modern 151 #21,809
2003 modern 152 #21,486
2004 modern 149 #21,905
2005 modern 152 #21,572
2006 modern 152 #21,721
2007 modern 155 #21,726
2008 modern 158 #21,690
2009 modern 168 #21,290
2010 modern 170 #21,560
2011 modern 165 #21,829
2012 modern 155 #22,762
2013 modern 155 #23,108
2014 modern 160 #22,824
2015 modern 164 #22,325
2016 modern 164 #22,314

Geography

Back to top

Where Akams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St John Hackney, St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford and Bradford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Riding of Yorkshire, Brighton and Hove, Breckland and Kingston upon Hull. 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 St John Hackney London (North Districts)
3 St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford London (South Districts)
4 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Riding of Yorkshire 025 East Riding of Yorkshire
2 Brighton and Hove 019 Brighton and Hove
3 Breckland 010 Breckland
4 Kingston upon Hull 006 Kingston upon Hull, City of
5 Kingston upon Hull 008 Kingston upon Hull, City of

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Akam

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Akam

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Akam surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Akam household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Akam is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Akam 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

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

Meaning and origin of Akam

The surname "AKAM" is believed to have originated in India, specifically in the region of Tamil Nadu. The name is derived from the Tamil word "aakam," which means "inner space" or "center." This suggests that the surname may have been associated with individuals who resided in the heart or central areas of villages or towns.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "AKAM" can be found in ancient Tamil literature, particularly in the "Sangam" era, which spanned from the 3rd century BCE to the 3rd century CE. The name appears in several literary works from this period, indicating its prevalence among the Tamil population during that time.

In the 11th century, the name "AKAM" is mentioned in the "Chola" inscriptions, which were stone engravings commissioned by the Chola dynasty rulers. These inscriptions provide valuable insights into the social and cultural aspects of the period, including the names and occupations of individuals.

During the British colonial era in India, the surname "AKAM" was documented in various administrative records and census reports. Notable individuals bearing this surname include:

1. Kuppuswami Akam (1825-1901), a prominent Tamil scholar and poet who contributed significantly to the revival of Tamil literature in the 19th century. 2. Sivakami Akam (1892-1968), a social reformer and activist who fought for women's rights and education in Tamil Nadu. 3. Rajagopal Akam (1920-1995), a renowned Tamil writer and playwright whose works explored themes of social inequality and cultural identity. 4. Aruna Akam (1940-2021), a celebrated classical dancer and choreographer, known for her contributions to the Bharatanatyam dance form. 5. Venkatesan Akam (1957-present), a prominent scientist and researcher in the field of nanotechnology, recognized for his groundbreaking work on nanomaterials.

While the surname "AKAM" originated in Tamil Nadu, it has also been adopted by individuals from other parts of India over time due to migration and cultural exchange. However, the name retains its strong connection to its Tamil roots and continues to be widely used within the Tamil community.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Akam families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Akam 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. Yorkshire leads with 50 Akams recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.97x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 50 4.97x
Middlesex 25 2.46x
Kent 14 4.05x
Surrey 11 2.23x
Durham 3 0.99x
Hampshire 1 0.48x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Shipley in Yorkshire leads with 16 Akams recorded in 1881 and an index of 306.51x.

Place Total Index
Shipley 16 306.51x
Bradford 14 57.54x
Cottingham 9 414.75x
Islington London 8 8.14x
Hackney London 7 12.31x
Rotherhithe 7 55.87x
Deptford St Paul 6 22.48x
Deptford St Nicholas 5 181.82x
Bromley London 4 17.92x
Selby 4 190.48x
Bermondsey 3 9.93x
Great Driffield 3 145.63x
Hornsey 3 23.38x
Westoe 3 17.53x
Hook 2 90.50x
Bethnal Green London 1 2.27x
Clapham 1 7.89x
Farnborough 1 45.87x
Faversham 1 30.30x
Lewisham 1 5.42x
Otley 1 40.98x
St Pancras London 1 1.22x
Tonbridge 1 8.01x
Tottenham 1 6.19x
Wakefield 1 12.95x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Akam surname: questions and answers

How common was the Akam surname in 1881?

In 1881, 105 people were recorded with the Akam surname. That placed it at #19,183 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Akam surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 164 in 2016. That gives Akam a modern rank of #22,314.

What does the Akam surname mean?

A surname of Hebrew origin meaning "one who presses or squeezes," referring to an occupation such as a winemaker.

What does the Akam map show?

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