NameCensus.

UK surname

Alli

A surname of Indian origin signifying a protector or high born person.

In the 1881 census there were 21 people recorded with the Alli surname, ranking it #30,609 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 739, ranked #7,386, up from #30,609 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bolton, Leicester and Swansea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Alli is 745 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 3419.0%.

1881 census count

21

Ranked #30,609

Modern count

739

2016, ranked #7,386

Peak year

2010

745 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Alli had 21 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,609 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 739 in 2016, ranked #7,386.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 21 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Alli surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Alli surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Alli 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 1 #33,412
1861 historical 10 #32,589
1881 historical 21 #30,609
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1911 historical 6 #33,255
1997 modern 355 #12,040
1998 modern 375 #11,939
1999 modern 411 #11,231
2000 modern 440 #10,629
2001 modern 444 #10,348
2002 modern 485 #9,846
2003 modern 529 #9,109
2004 modern 558 #8,775
2005 modern 595 #8,323
2006 modern 617 #8,111
2007 modern 656 #7,806
2008 modern 665 #7,777
2009 modern 702 #7,626
2010 modern 745 #7,415
2011 modern 727 #7,482
2012 modern 727 #7,407
2013 modern 739 #7,432
2014 modern 739 #7,469
2015 modern 733 #7,455
2016 modern 739 #7,386

Geography

Back to top

Where Allis 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 Bolton, Leicester, Swansea and Manchester. 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 Bolton 005 Bolton
2 Bolton 011 Bolton
3 Leicester 027 Leicester
4 Swansea 021 Swansea
5 Manchester 007 Manchester

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Alli

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Alli

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

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Alli surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Alli 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Alli 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

Alli 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

Alli 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Alli

The surname ALLI is believed to have originated in India and can be traced back to the 9th century AD. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "ali," which translates to "beautiful" or "lovely." The name was initially found in the northern regions of India, particularly in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

In the ancient Hindu scriptures, the name ALLI is mentioned as a feminine name, often associated with goddesses and deities revered for their beauty and grace. This connection to divinity and spirituality may have contributed to the name's adoption as a surname.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname ALLI can be found in the Khajuraho Temples, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Madhya Pradesh, India. The temple inscriptions, dating back to the 10th century, include references to individuals bearing the name ALLI.

During the Mughal Empire, which ruled a significant portion of the Indian subcontinent from the 16th to the 19th centuries, the surname ALLI was associated with individuals who held positions of authority and prestige. For instance, Shah Jahan, the Mughal emperor who commissioned the construction of the Taj Mahal, had a court minister named Mir Jumla Alli Khan (1609-1666).

In the 18th century, the name ALLI gained prominence in the region of Bengal, where it was associated with prominent figures in the literary and cultural spheres. One notable figure was Mir Mohammed Alli (1703-1786), a renowned poet and scholar of Persian and Arabic literature.

As the Indian diaspora spread across the globe, the surname ALLI traveled with them. In the 19th century, individuals with the surname ALLI can be found in various records and documents in countries such as South Africa and Mauritius, where Indian communities had established themselves.

Another notable figure was Sir Ardesir Alli (1865-1945), an Indian businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of Karachi, Pakistan. He was knighted by the British Empire in 1926 for his philanthropic efforts.

In more recent times, the name ALLI has gained recognition in the field of sports. One prominent example is Mohammed Alli (born 1942), an Indian field hockey player who represented India in multiple Olympic Games and was part of the team that won the gold medal at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Alli families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Alli 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. Essex leads with 20 Allis recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.98x.

County Total Index
Essex 20 25.98x
Royal Navy 20 430.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. East Ham in Essex leads with 20 Allis recorded in 1881 and an index of 1398.60x.

Place Total Index
East Ham 20 1398.60x
Royal Navy 1 25.19x

Top male names

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

Name Count
Answer 2
Auijaet 1
Badur 1
Ended 1
Jaffer 1
Jeanut 1
Kassem 1
Kassim 1
Komer 1
Laduck 1
Mohabit 1
Mohodal 1
Monere 1
Moshen 1
Omed 1
Roskim 1
Sheik 1
Teak 1
Wuzzeer 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 Alli households.

FAQ

Alli surname: questions and answers

How common was the Alli surname in 1881?

In 1881, 21 people were recorded with the Alli surname. That placed it at #30,609 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Alli surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 739 in 2016. That gives Alli a modern rank of #7,386.

What does the Alli surname mean?

A surname of Indian origin signifying a protector or high born person.

What does the Alli map show?

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