NameCensus.

UK surname

Allain

A French surname derived from the Germanic name Adalwin, meaning "noble friend."

In the 1881 census there were 8 people recorded with the Allain surname, ranking it #32,581 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 123, ranked #27,115, up from #32,581 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Castle Point, Law and Southampton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Allain is 140 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1437.5%.

1881 census count

8

Ranked #32,581

Modern count

123

2016, ranked #27,115

Peak year

1999

140 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Allain had 8 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,581 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 123 in 2016, ranked #27,115.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 26 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Allain surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Allain surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Allain 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 7 #32,070
1861 historical 25 #30,804
1881 historical 8 #32,581
1891 historical 26 #32,189
1901 historical 22 #31,562
1911 historical 15 #31,938
1997 modern 125 #23,567
1998 modern 129 #23,722
1999 modern 140 #22,789
2000 modern 129 #23,901
2001 modern 122 #24,366
2002 modern 132 #23,680
2003 modern 129 #23,783
2004 modern 127 #24,224
2005 modern 128 #24,076
2006 modern 136 #23,378
2007 modern 138 #23,478
2008 modern 132 #24,476
2009 modern 126 #25,686
2010 modern 127 #26,176
2011 modern 122 #26,647
2012 modern 115 #27,717
2013 modern 125 #26,695
2014 modern 123 #27,206
2015 modern 120 #27,561
2016 modern 123 #27,115

Geography

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Where Allains 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 Castle Point, Law, Southampton and Havering. 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 Castle Point 007 Castle Point
2 Law Dundee City
3 Southampton 004 Southampton
4 Havering 024 Havering
5 Southampton 015 Southampton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Allain

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Allain

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Allain, 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 Allain surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Allain 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, Allain 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

Allain 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

Allain falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Allain 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
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Allain

The surname ALLAIN originated in France, with records dating back to the 11th century. It is derived from the French personal name Alain or Allain, which itself comes from the ancient Germanic name Alo or Alan. These proto-Germanic roots meant "handsome" or "cheerful."

ALLAIN was most prevalent in the northern regions of France, particularly in Normandy and Brittany. In medieval records, it appears spelled in various ways such as Alen, Alein, Alin, and Alain. The name is found in the famous Domesday Book of 1086, recording landowners in England after the Norman conquest.

One of the earliest recorded bearers was Alain Fergent, Duke of Brittany, who lived from 937-952 AD. Another notable figure was Alain de Lille (c.1128-1202), a renowned theologian and poet. Jean Allain, born in 1537 in Normandy, was a pioneering French explorer who traveled to Canada.

Sir John Allaine (1470-1540) was an English knight and landowner from Cambridgeshire. Jacques Allain (1528-1591) was a French Calvinist theologian and religious writer from Normandy. Pierre Allain (1635-1705) was a French Baroque painter born in Normandy.

Jean-Jacques Allain (1768-1858) was a French general who fought in the Napoleonic Wars. François Allain (1885-1969) was a French actor from Brittany who appeared in many popular films of his era. These examples illustrate the diverse contexts in which this surname appeared over several centuries across France, England, and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Allain families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Allain 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. Channel Islands leads with 18 Allains recorded in 1881 and an index of 239.68x.

County Total Index
Channel Islands 18 239.68x
Kent 2 2.31x
Angus 1 4.26x
Cornwall 1 3.48x
Hampshire 1 1.92x
Lancashire 1 0.33x
Surrey 1 0.81x
Warwickshire 1 1.56x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Helier in Channel Islands leads with 18 Allains recorded in 1881 and an index of 734.69x.

Place Total Index
St Helier 18 734.69x
Deptford St Paul 2 29.99x
Alverstoke 1 53.19x
Barrow In Furness 1 24.45x
Birmingham 1 4.69x
Camberwell 1 6.17x
Dundee 1 11.40x
Falmouth 1 98.04x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 3
Ada 1
Ann 1
Charlotte 1
Elizabeth 1
Euginie 1
Francoise 1
Jane 1
Lena 1
Marie 1
Maud 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Francois 3
William 2
Alphonse 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Fred. 1
Nicholas 1
Paul 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 Allain households.

FAQ

Allain surname: questions and answers

How common was the Allain surname in 1881?

In 1881, 8 people were recorded with the Allain surname. That placed it at #32,581 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Allain surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 123 in 2016. That gives Allain a modern rank of #27,115.

What does the Allain surname mean?

A French surname derived from the Germanic name Adalwin, meaning "noble friend."

What does the Allain map show?

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