NameCensus.

UK surname

Ali

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "lofty," "sublime," or "champion," often denoting descendants of the Prophet Muhammad's son-in-law, Ali.

In the 1881 census there were 14 people recorded with the Ali surname, ranking it #31,604 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 67,935, ranked #67, up from #31,604 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ali is 67,935 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 485150.0%.

1881 census count

14

Ranked #31,604

Modern count

67,935

2016, ranked #67

Peak year

2016

67,935 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ali had 14 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,604 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 67,935 in 2016, ranked #67.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 53 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Ali surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ali surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ali 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 3 #32,890
1881 historical 14 #31,604
1901 historical 53 #28,271
1997 modern 30,188 #172
1998 modern 32,900 #158
1999 modern 34,866 #149
2000 modern 36,808 #138
2001 modern 36,171 #138
2002 modern 40,774 #119
2003 modern 43,017 #108
2004 modern 45,697 #106
2005 modern 48,198 #95
2006 modern 51,230 #87
2007 modern 54,508 #82
2008 modern 57,146 #79
2009 modern 60,969 #76
2010 modern 64,915 #72
2011 modern 64,340 #72
2012 modern 62,882 #72
2013 modern 65,473 #72
2014 modern 66,872 #69
2015 modern 66,806 #67
2016 modern 67,935 #67

Geography

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Where Alis 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 Oldham, Bradford, Tower Hamlets and Birmingham. 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 Oldham 016 Oldham
2 Bradford 039 Bradford
3 Tower Hamlets 015 Tower Hamlets
4 Tower Hamlets 019 Tower Hamlets
5 Birmingham 139 Birmingham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ali

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

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

Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students

Nationally, the Ali surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Ali household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Married couples with dependent children are common in this Group, with many parents born in Africa or the EU. The representation of residents amongst different ethnic minority groups is high, particularly for individuals of Pakistani ethnic group. For many residents, English is not their main language, and affiliation to Christian religions is less common. Privately rented terrace properties predominate and levels of overcrowding are high. Part time work is common, with many employed in elementary occupations and sales and customer services. There are also many students living within these areas, and overall unemployment levels are high.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Ali is most associated with areas classed as Young Asian Family Terraces, 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 households with dependent children typically live in terraced housing and are of (non-Chinese) Asian extraction. Individuals with Bangladeshi origins are particularly in evidence. Employment is often in elementary occupations or as process, plant or machine operatives, and part-time work is common. Students are much in evidence.

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

Ali 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

Ali falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ali 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 Ali, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Ali

The surname ALI is believed to have originated in the Middle East and is an Arabic name derived from the word "Ali" which means "sublime" or "exalted". The name is closely associated with Islam and has its roots in the Arabian Peninsula.

One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in Islamic texts and manuscripts dating back to the 7th century AD, where it was used to refer to Ali ibn Abi Talib, the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad. Ali ibn Abi Talib was the fourth caliph of Islam and is revered by Shia Muslims as the first Imam.

As Islam spread across the Middle East and North Africa, the name ALI became more widespread. It was adopted by many families as a surname, particularly in areas such as modern-day Iraq, Iran, Egypt, and Morocco. Variations of the spelling, such as Ali, Aly, and Aley, also emerged in different regions.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname ALI can be found in the writings of the famous Arab philosopher and polymath, Al-Biruni, who lived between 973-1048 AD. He mentions several individuals with the surname ALI in his works on astronomy and geography.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who have borne the surname ALI. One such person was Muhammad Ali, the renowned Egyptian writer and intellectual who lived from 1769 to 1849. He was a prominent figure in the Arabic literary renaissance and wrote extensively on various topics, including history, philosophy, and theology.

Another famous bearer of the surname was Amjad Ali Khan, the Indian classical musician and sarod player, who was born in 1945. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest living exponents of the sarod and has been awarded numerous honors, including the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian award.

In the field of sports, Muhammad Ali, the legendary American boxer and activist, is perhaps one of the most well-known individuals with the surname ALI. Born in 1942 as Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., he later changed his name after converting to Islam. His impact on the sport of boxing and his stance against racism and the Vietnam War made him a cultural icon.

The surname ALI has also been associated with several historical figures in various parts of the world. In South Asia, the Mughal ruler Bahadur Shah II, who reigned from 1837 to 1857, had the title of "Ali Gauhar" as part of his regnal name. In Africa, the Sudanese leader Ismail al-Azhari, who led a resistance movement against British colonial rule in the early 20th century, is often referred to as Ali Abdel-Latif.

While the surname ALI has its roots in the Middle East and is closely tied to Islam, it has spread across various regions and cultures, reflecting the diverse histories and traditions of those who bear this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ali families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ali 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. Norfolk leads with 10 Alis recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.04x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 10 37.04x
Royal Navy 2 95.69x
Essex 1 2.89x
Fife 1 9.62x
Gloucestershire 1 2.90x
Middlesex 1 0.57x
Surrey 1 1.17x
West Lothian 1 37.88x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Heigham in Norfolk leads with 10 Alis recorded in 1881 and an index of 689.66x.

Place Total Index
Heigham 10 689.66x
Royal Navy 2 111.73x
Boness 1 277.78x
Clifton 1 57.47x
East Ham 1 156.25x
Egham 1 188.68x
Kinghorn 1 454.55x
St Pancras London 1 7.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Eliza 2
Emily 1
Gerah 1
Harriet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Abdul 1
Ali 1
Harriett 1
Jabez 1
John 1
Meiza 1
Mohammed 1
Monarch 1
Shiekh 1
William 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 Ali households.

FAQ

Ali surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ali surname in 1881?

In 1881, 14 people were recorded with the Ali surname. That placed it at #31,604 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ali surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 67,935 in 2016. That gives Ali a modern rank of #67.

What does the Ali surname mean?

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "lofty," "sublime," or "champion," often denoting descendants of the Prophet Muhammad's son-in-law, Ali.

What does the Ali map show?

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