NameCensus.

UK surname

Allam

A surname derived from the Arabic "Allam" meaning scholar or learned person.

In the 1881 census there were 378 people recorded with the Allam surname, ranking it #8,288 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 689, ranked #7,798, up from #8,288 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Abingdon St Helen, Abingdon St Nicholas, London parishes and St Werburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Winchester, South Kesteven and Barnsley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Allam is 747 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 82.3%.

1881 census count

378

Ranked #8,288

Modern count

689

2016, ranked #7,798

Peak year

2010

747 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Allam had 378 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,288 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 689 in 2016, ranked #7,798.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 537 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Allam surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Allam surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Allam 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 358 #6,604
1861 historical 312 #8,127
1881 historical 378 #8,288
1891 historical 504 #7,377
1901 historical 522 #7,802
1911 historical 537 #7,421
1997 modern 608 #8,068
1998 modern 623 #8,172
1999 modern 651 #7,931
2000 modern 648 #7,951
2001 modern 632 #7,946
2002 modern 650 #7,942
2003 modern 665 #7,693
2004 modern 672 #7,654
2005 modern 670 #7,602
2006 modern 676 #7,576
2007 modern 681 #7,602
2008 modern 705 #7,439
2009 modern 720 #7,470
2010 modern 747 #7,402
2011 modern 729 #7,469
2012 modern 711 #7,517
2013 modern 703 #7,697
2014 modern 702 #7,756
2015 modern 694 #7,769
2016 modern 689 #7,798

Geography

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Where Allams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Abingdon St Helen, Abingdon St Nicholas, London parishes, St Werburgh and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Winchester, South Kesteven, Barnsley, Thanet and Sutton. 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 Abingdon St Helen, Abingdon St Nicholas Berkshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Werburgh Derbyshire
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Winchester 004 Winchester
2 South Kesteven 016 South Kesteven
3 Barnsley 005 Barnsley
4 Thanet 012 Thanet
5 Sutton 002 Sutton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Allam

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Allam

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Allam surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Allam household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Allam is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Allam 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

Allam falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Allam 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.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Allam

The surname ALLAM has its roots in the Middle East, likely originating from the Arabic word "alam" meaning "flag" or "banner." The name can be traced back to ancient times, with records indicating its presence in regions now known as Iraq, Iran, and parts of the Arabian Peninsula.

One of the earliest references to the name ALLAM can be found in ancient Persian manuscripts, where it was often used to denote individuals who served as flag-bearers or standard-bearers in military campaigns or royal processions. The name gained prominence during the reign of the Abbasid Caliphate, which ruled over a vast empire stretching from modern-day Morocco to Central Asia.

In the 11th century, the ALLAM name appeared in historical records from the region of Khuzestan, located in present-day southwestern Iran. One notable figure from this era was Abu al-Qasim Mahmud ibn Allam al-Ahwazi, a renowned poet and scholar who lived from 1010 to 1078 CE. His works, which encompassed various genres including poetry, linguistics, and history, were widely celebrated during his lifetime and beyond.

As the centuries passed, the ALLAM surname spread across the Middle East and North Africa, carried by traders, scholars, and migrants. In the 13th century, a prominent figure named Ibn Allam al-Andalusi, born in 1212 in Seville, Spain, made significant contributions to the field of Islamic jurisprudence and philosophy. His treatises on legal principles and theological debates were highly influential in the Muslim world.

The name ALLAM also found its way into the Ottoman Empire, where it was associated with individuals of notable standing. One such figure was Mustafa Allam Efendi, a 17th-century Ottoman diplomat and statesman who served as the Grand Vizier, the highest-ranking political office in the empire, from 1688 to 1689.

In more recent times, the ALLAM surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including academics, artists, and public figures. For instance, Nawal El Saadawi, an Egyptian writer, activist, and physician, was born in 1931 with the surname ALLAM. Her works, which tackled issues of women's rights and social injustice, garnered international acclaim and influenced generations of feminist thinkers.

While the origins of the ALLAM surname can be traced back to the Middle East, its presence has been documented across various regions and cultures, reflecting the rich tapestry of human migration and cultural exchange throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Allam families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Allam 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. Middlesex leads with 84 Allams recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.29x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 84 2.29x
Oxfordshire 34 15.01x
Surrey 33 1.85x
Berkshire 31 11.26x
Lincolnshire 29 4.95x
Lancashire 22 0.51x
Hampshire 17 2.26x
Derbyshire 16 2.79x
Essex 16 2.21x
Buckinghamshire 15 6.76x
Yorkshire 15 0.41x
Staffordshire 8 0.65x
Bedfordshire 7 3.69x
Denbighshire 7 5.05x
Kent 7 0.56x
Northamptonshire 7 2.03x
Cambridgeshire 5 2.15x
Rutland 5 18.57x
Northumberland 4 0.73x
Hertfordshire 3 1.19x
Orkney 3 7.43x
Norfolk 2 0.35x
Cornwall 1 0.24x
Cumberland 1 0.32x
Fife 1 0.46x
Leicestershire 1 0.25x
Royal Navy 1 2.29x
Warwickshire 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Abingdon St Helen in Berkshire leads with 18 Allams recorded in 1881 and an index of 223.60x.

Place Total Index
Abingdon St Helen 18 223.60x
Great Marlow 15 250.84x
Hammersmith London 14 15.50x
Mile End Old Town London 14 17.93x
Waltham Holy Cross 13 192.02x
St Pancras London 12 4.06x
Islip 9 1184.21x
Litchurch 9 38.94x
Deeping St James 8 386.47x
East Lockinge 8 1951.22x
Newington 8 5.90x
Stanton St John 8 1159.42x
Broughton 7 128.44x
Derby St Alkmund 7 40.67x
Kensington London 7 3.43x
Lambeth 7 2.19x
Oldham 7 4.98x
Oxford St Thomas 7 66.23x
Bury 6 12.07x
East Tisted 6 2500.00x
St Luke London 6 10.20x
Windlesham 6 178.57x
Wolstanton 6 15.96x
Islington London 5 1.41x
Leeds 5 2.44x
Priors Dean 5 2380.95x
Rotherhithe 5 11.03x
Ryhall 5 555.56x
Shadwell London 5 48.73x
Southorpe 5 2272.73x
Southwark Christchurch 5 29.09x
St Marylebone London 5 2.55x
Wisbech St Peter 5 42.92x
Cookham 4 46.62x
Elswick 4 9.18x
Fulham London 4 7.52x
Kirkdale 4 5.46x
Shipton On Cherwell 4 2857.14x
St Andrew Holborn London 4 25.19x
Studham 4 384.62x
Westhoughton 4 34.45x
Witham On Hill 4 1666.67x
Billinghay 3 165.75x
Bingley 3 12.96x
Dunsby 3 1071.43x
Firth Stenness 3 173.41x
Leighton Buzzard 3 36.72x
Normanton 3 27.47x
Romford 3 26.20x
Spalding 3 25.77x
Berkhampstead 2 35.21x
Charlton On Otmoor 2 303.03x
Clerkenwell London 2 2.31x
Gosberton 2 76.63x
Hampstead London 2 3.50x
Kenninghall 2 129.03x
Market Deeping 2 131.58x
Newton Valence 2 434.78x
Plumstead 2 4.80x
St George Hanover Square 2 3.10x
Alton 1 17.64x
Beswick 1 8.98x
Cuddington 1 144.93x
Eccleshill 1 11.31x
Gravesend 1 9.43x
Hertford St John 1 26.53x
Maxey 1 131.58x
Merevale 1 416.67x
Merton 1 476.19x
Oxford St Giles 1 9.25x
Rotherham 1 4.88x
Selborne 1 65.36x
St Anne Soho London 1 4.77x
St Mary 1 41.15x
St Mary Within 1 25.38x
Sunbury 1 22.68x
Tilehurst 1 17.99x
Tonbridge 1 2.22x
Woodstock 1 70.42x
Wragby 1 156.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Sarah 19
Harriet 9
Ellen 8
Emma 8
Alice 7
Annie 7
Elizabeth 7
Ann 6
Eliza 6
Catherine 5
Charlotte 5
Jane 4
Louisa 4
Susan 4
Agnes 3
Rosa 3
Amy 2
Bertha 2
Edith 2
Eleanor 2
Emily 2
Hannah 2
Harriott 2
Lucy 2
Margaret 2
Rose 2
Anna 1
Caroline 1
Clara 1
Dora 1
Elizth. 1
Florence 1
Florie 1
Florry 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Georgina 1
Isable 1
Jessie 1
Joy 1
Kate 1
Katie 1
Laura 1
Lilie 1
Lilly 1
Lydia 1
M.Jane 1
Mabel 1
Victoria 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 29
John 17
James 11
Alfred 10
Thomas 9
Richard 8
Albert 7
George 7
Charles 6
Frederick 6
Henry 6
Robert 6
Edward 5
Francis 4
Harry 4
Herbert 4
Joseph 4
Frank 3
Walter 3
Arthur 2
Benjamin 2
Edwin 2
Isaac 2
Absolam 1
Adam 1
Alexander 1
Andrew 1
Ann 1
Benjeman 1
Charley 1
Felix 1
Hugh 1
Jane 1
Leon 1
Percy 1
Samuel 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1
W. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Allam surname: questions and answers

How common was the Allam surname in 1881?

In 1881, 378 people were recorded with the Allam surname. That placed it at #8,288 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Allam surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 689 in 2016. That gives Allam a modern rank of #7,798.

What does the Allam surname mean?

A surname derived from the Arabic "Allam" meaning scholar or learned person.

What does the Allam map show?

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