UK surname

Alimi

A surname of Yoruba origin meaning "my defender" or "my protector," derived from the Yoruba name Olúwáálímí.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Alimi is 110 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

Modern count

100

2016, ranked #31,123

Peak year

2009

110 bearers

Map years

2016 to 2016

Key insights

• The latest modern count shown here is 100 in 2016, ranked #31,123.
• The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Map

Alimi surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Alimi surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Year

Loading map

Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Alimi 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	28	#34,904
1998	modern	33	#34,532
1999	modern	31	#34,821
2000	modern	28	#35,080
2001	modern	30	#34,753
2002	modern	44	#33,790
2003	modern	59	#32,530
2004	modern	54	#33,248
2005	modern	71	#31,816
2006	modern	72	#32,059
2007	modern	81	#31,408
2008	modern	94	#29,950
2009	modern	110	#27,991
2010	modern	97	#30,697
2011	modern	93	#31,169
2012	modern	104	#29,543
2013	modern	100	#30,773
2014	modern	100	#31,033
2015	modern	96	#31,624
2016	modern	100	#31,123

Geography

Where Alimis 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 Southwark, Enfield, Hackney and Greenwich. 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	Southwark 022	Southwark
2	Enfield 033	Enfield
3	Hackney 019	Hackney
4	Greenwich 034	Greenwich
5	Hackney 024	Hackney

Forenames

First names often paired with Alimi

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Recent female names

Bolanle Funmilayo Grace Abiola Omowunmi Kehinde Wuraola Omolola Sarah Sherifat

Recent male names

Ademola Taiwo Adewale Ahmed Ibrahim Adekunle Lateef Ayodeji Mohammed Idris

Modern profile

Neighbourhood profile for Alimi

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Alimi surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Alimi 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 includes many younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Alimi 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

Alimi 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.

Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Alimi 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.

More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Alimi 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.

Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate: Black - African

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

Origin

Meaning and origin of Alimi

The surname Alimi has its origins in West Africa, specifically Nigeria, where it can be traced back to the 15th century. It is derived from the Arabic word "Alim," meaning "scholar" or "learned person." This suggests that the name was likely bestowed upon individuals who were renowned for their knowledge and scholarly pursuits.

The earliest records of the Alimi surname can be found in historical documents from the ancient city-states of the Hausa people in northern Nigeria. These city-states, such as Kano, Katsina, and Zaria, were centers of Islamic learning and scholarship during the medieval period. It is believed that the name Alimi may have originated among scholars and religious leaders who played a significant role in the spread of Islam and the preservation of knowledge in these regions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Alimi name can be found in the writings of the renowned Hausa scholar and historian, Al-Maghili, who lived in the 15th century. Al-Maghili documented the lives and works of several prominent scholars from the region, including individuals with the surname Alimi.

In the 16th century, the Alimi surname gained prominence in the Bornu Empire, which encompassed parts of modern-day northeastern Nigeria, Chad, and Niger. The Bornu Empire was known for its rich intellectual and cultural traditions, and the Alimi name was associated with scholars, poets, and religious leaders who contributed to this vibrant intellectual landscape.

Notable individuals with the surname Alimi include Muhammadu Alimi, a 17th-century scholar and jurist from the city of Kano, who was renowned for his expertise in Islamic jurisprudence. Another prominent figure was Uthman Alimi, a 19th-century poet and philosopher from the Sokoto Caliphate, whose works explored themes of spirituality and human existence.

The Alimi surname can also be found in historical records from the ancient Oyo Empire, located in present-day southwestern Nigeria. In the 18th century, the Oyo Empire was a major center of Yoruba culture and learning, and the Alimi name was associated with scholars and intellectuals who played a crucial role in preserving and disseminating knowledge within the empire.

Throughout the centuries, the Alimi surname has been carried by individuals from various regions of West Africa, including Ghana, Togo, and Benin, where it has maintained its connection to scholarship and intellectual pursuits.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Alimi surname: questions and answers

How common is the Alimi surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 100 in 2016. That gives Alimi a modern rank of #31,123.

What does the Alimi surname mean?