NameCensus.

UK surname

Alibhai

A surname derived from the honorific title "Ali Bhai", given to those affiliated with the Shi'ite sect of Islam.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hackney, Enfield and Redbridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Alibhai is 315 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

279

2016, ranked #15,534

Peak year

2010

315 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 279 in 2016, ranked #15,534.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Alibhai surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Alibhai surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Alibhai 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 209 #17,157
1998 modern 236 #16,304
1999 modern 239 #16,268
2000 modern 239 #16,239
2001 modern 237 #16,048
2002 modern 265 #15,197
2003 modern 269 #14,855
2004 modern 270 #14,913
2005 modern 267 #14,954
2006 modern 279 #14,577
2007 modern 302 #13,997
2008 modern 304 #14,000
2009 modern 304 #14,287
2010 modern 315 #14,223
2011 modern 306 #14,410
2012 modern 286 #15,012
2013 modern 286 #15,259
2014 modern 283 #15,495
2015 modern 282 #15,417
2016 modern 279 #15,534

Geography

Back to top

Where Alibhais 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 Hackney, Enfield and Redbridge. 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 Hackney 006 Hackney
2 Enfield 029 Enfield
3 Redbridge 026 Redbridge
4 Hackney 004 Hackney
5 Hackney 029 Hackney

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Alibhai

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Alibhai

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

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

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

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Alibhai 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

Alibhai 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

Alibhai falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Alibhai

The surname ALIBHAI is of Indian origin, specifically from the Gujarat region of western India. It is believed to have first emerged in the 14th or 15th century during the time of the Delhi Sultanate and the subsequent Mughal Empire.

The name ALIBHAI is derived from the Arabic word 'Ali', which is a common Muslim name, and the Gujarati word 'bhai', meaning 'brother'. It is likely that the name was originally a descriptive term used to refer to someone as the brother of Ali or a follower of Ali, who was the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name ALIBHAI can be found in the 'Mirat-i-Ahmadi', a historical text written in Persian by Ali Muhammad Khan in the 16th century. This text mentions a prominent merchant and trader named Alibhai who lived in the city of Surat, a major port in Gujarat during the Mughal era.

In the 17th century, the ALIBHAI surname is also mentioned in several records of the East India Company, which had established trading posts in Gujarat. These records document business dealings and transactions with local merchants and traders bearing the ALIBHAI name.

One notable individual with the surname ALIBHAI was Alibhai Premji (1783-1856), a wealthy Gujarati merchant and philanthropist who founded the Premji Family Trust, which later established the Premji Educational Society in Bombay (now Mumbai).

Another prominent figure was Sir Alibhai Mulla Jeevanjee (1828-1920), a highly successful Gujarati businessman and philanthropist who was one of the wealthiest individuals in British India. He was knighted by Queen Victoria in 1891 for his contributions to education and charitable causes.

In the 19th century, the ALIBHAI surname also appeared in various records and documents related to the Khoja community, a Muslim trading community from Gujarat and parts of South Asia. Several prominent Khoja families bore the ALIBHAI surname, such as the Alibhai Adamji Peerbhoy family, who were influential merchants and landowners in Mumbai.

Other notable individuals with the ALIBHAI surname include Alibhai Kassambhai Premji (1865-1925), a prominent Gujarati businessman and philanthropist, and Alibhai Radhakrishna Sheth (1884-1957), a renowned Indian lawyer and member of the Bombay Legislative Council.

Overall, the surname ALIBHAI has a rich history and association with the Gujarati Muslim community, particularly with regard to trade, business, and philanthropy. Its origins can be traced back to the medieval period in India, and it has been carried by many influential and prominent individuals throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Alibhai surname: questions and answers

How common is the Alibhai surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 279 in 2016. That gives Alibhai a modern rank of #15,534.

What does the Alibhai surname mean?

A surname derived from the honorific title "Ali Bhai", given to those affiliated with the Shi'ite sect of Islam.

What does the Alibhai map show?

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