NameCensus.

UK surname

Alawi

Descendant of Ali, or belonging to the Islamic sect that reveres Ali ibn Abi Talib, Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Alawi is 115 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

114

2016, ranked #28,515

Peak year

2014

115 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 114 in 2016, ranked #28,515.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Alawi surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Alawi surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Alawi 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
1997 modern 30 #34,701
1998 modern 34 #34,433
1999 modern 33 #34,610
2000 modern 36 #34,317
2001 modern 38 #34,004
2002 modern 46 #33,631
2003 modern 58 #32,619
2004 modern 68 #31,880
2005 modern 75 #31,400
2006 modern 84 #30,665
2007 modern 83 #31,183
2008 modern 94 #29,950
2009 modern 96 #30,239
2010 modern 99 #30,397
2011 modern 97 #30,552
2012 modern 98 #30,612
2013 modern 106 #29,740
2014 modern 115 #28,439
2015 modern 112 #28,809
2016 modern 114 #28,515

Geography

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Where Alawis 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 Liverpool, Waltham Forest, Barnet, Hammersmith and Fulham and Hackney. 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 Liverpool 044 Liverpool
2 Waltham Forest 020 Waltham Forest
3 Barnet 026 Barnet
4 Hammersmith and Fulham 010 Hammersmith and Fulham
5 Hackney 024 Hackney

Forenames

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First names often paired with Alawi

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

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

Alawi 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

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

Meaning and origin of Alawi

The surname Alawi is of Arabic origin, tracing its roots back to the 7th century CE in the Arabian Peninsula. It is closely associated with the Alawite sect of Islam, a branch of Shia Islam concentrated in Syria, Lebanon, and Turkey.

The name is derived from the Arabic word "Ali," referring to Ali ibn Abi Talib, the cousin and son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad. The Alawites consider themselves followers of Ali and his descendants, known as the Ahl al-Bayt (the House of the Prophet).

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Alawi surname can be found in the writings of Nusayri scholars from the 10th and 11th centuries CE. These texts discuss the teachings and beliefs of the Alawite sect, which had emerged in the 9th century CE in the mountainous regions of northwestern Syria.

In the 12th century, the Alawite community faced persecution from the ruling Sunni dynasties, which led to their migration to the coastal regions of Syria and Lebanon. During this time, the Alawi surname became more widespread among the Alawite population.

Notable historical figures with the Alawi surname include Ali al-Alawi (1020-1072 CE), a renowned Alawite scholar and philosopher who wrote extensively on the sect's beliefs and practices. Another prominent figure was Hasan al-Alawi (1532-1604 CE), a respected Alawite theologian and poet from Lebanon.

In the 16th century, the Alawi surname was also adopted by some members of the Ottoman ruling elite who claimed descent from the Ahl al-Bayt. One such figure was Mustafa Alawi Pasha (1570-1637 CE), an influential Ottoman statesman and governor of several provinces.

During the 19th and early 20th centuries, the Alawi community played a significant role in the Syrian nationalist movement, with figures like Salim Ali Alawi (1867-1945 CE), a prominent politician and leader of the Syrian National Bloc, and Shakib Alawi (1905-1950 CE), a renowned Syrian writer and intellectual.

The Alawi surname is still predominantly found among the Alawite population in Syria, Lebanon, and Turkey, as well as among their diaspora communities around the world. It serves as a reminder of the rich cultural and religious heritage of this community.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Alawi surname: questions and answers

How common is the Alawi surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 114 in 2016. That gives Alawi a modern rank of #28,515.

What does the Alawi surname mean?

Descendant of Ali, or belonging to the Islamic sect that reveres Ali ibn Abi Talib, Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law.

What does the Alawi map show?

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