NameCensus.

UK surname

Alom

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "world" or "universe".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tower Hamlets and Tameside.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Alom is 793 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

780

2016, ranked #7,067

Peak year

2010

793 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 780 in 2016, ranked #7,067.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 8 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Alom surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Alom surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Alom 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
1891 historical 8 #33,550
1911 historical 2 #34,020
1997 modern 176 #19,091
1998 modern 227 #16,754
1999 modern 248 #15,884
2000 modern 300 #13,904
2001 modern 295 #13,867
2002 modern 374 #12,040
2003 modern 420 #10,862
2004 modern 481 #9,779
2005 modern 522 #9,159
2006 modern 583 #8,464
2007 modern 647 #7,895
2008 modern 658 #7,843
2009 modern 737 #7,351
2010 modern 793 #7,079
2011 modern 733 #7,447
2012 modern 696 #7,638
2013 modern 722 #7,554
2014 modern 755 #7,334
2015 modern 755 #7,266
2016 modern 780 #7,067

Geography

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Where Aloms 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 Tower Hamlets and Tameside. 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 Tower Hamlets 015 Tower Hamlets
2 Tower Hamlets 021 Tower Hamlets
3 Tower Hamlets 016 Tower Hamlets
4 Tameside 028 Tameside
5 Tower Hamlets 008 Tower Hamlets

Forenames

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First names often paired with Alom

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Alom

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

Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Married couples with dependent children are common in this Group, with many parents born in Africa or the EU. The representation of residents amongst different ethnic minority groups is high, particularly for individuals of Pakistani ethnic group. For many residents, English is not their main language, and affiliation to Christian religions is less common. Privately rented terrace properties predominate and levels of overcrowding are high. Part time work is common, with many employed in elementary occupations and sales and customer services. There are also many students living within these areas, and overall unemployment levels are high.

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

Challenged Inner London Communities

Within London, Alom is most associated with areas classed as Challenged Inner London Communities, 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

Resident in some of Inner London’s most over-crowded communities, many families have children and marriage/civil partnership rates are above the Supergroup average. Other adults such as students live in communal establishments. Few residents have Level 4 educational qualifications, levels of unemployment are above the Supergroup average, and employment is concentrated in service occupations such as distribution, hotels and restaurants. Relative to the Supergroup average, fewer residents identify as being of mixed/multiple ethnicities, Black or Other Asian.

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

Alom 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

Alom 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 Alom 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
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Alom

The surname ALOM has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the region of Bengal. The name is believed to have derived from the Sanskrit word "Alok," which means light or illumination. It is thought to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century.

The earliest known usage of the name ALOM can be traced back to the region of modern-day Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal. It was likely used as a descriptive surname, referring to individuals who were associated with light or illumination, either figuratively or literally.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name ALOM can be found in the "Ain-i-Akbari," a 16th-century administrative document commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. This document mentions a person named Mir Alom, who held a prominent position in the imperial court.

Over the centuries, the name ALOM has been associated with several notable individuals. One of the most famous bearers of this surname was Sheikh Faizullah Alom (1660-1730), a renowned Sufi saint and scholar from Bengal. He was known for his contributions to the spiritual and intellectual life of the region.

Another prominent figure with the surname ALOM was Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (1888-1958), a renowned Indian scholar, poet, and one of the leading figures of the Indian independence movement. He served as the first Education Minister of independent India and played a crucial role in shaping the country's educational policies.

In the field of literature, Abul Mansur Ahmed Alom (1943-2019) was a celebrated Bengali author and poet. His works explored themes of social injustice, poverty, and the struggles of the working class. He received numerous awards and honors for his literary contributions.

The name ALOM has also been associated with notable figures in the world of sports. One such individual was Alom Remeen Khaled (born 1983), a former Bangladeshi cricketer who represented the national team in both Test and One Day International matches.

In the realm of politics, Alom Shamsher Chowdhury (born 1942) was a prominent Bangladeshi politician and diplomat. He served as the Speaker of the National Parliament of Bangladesh and held various diplomatic positions, including serving as the Ambassador to the United States.

It is important to note that while the surname ALOM has its roots in the Indian subcontinent, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. However, the historical significance and origins of this surname remain firmly rooted in the region of Bengal.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Alom surname: questions and answers

How common is the Alom surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 780 in 2016. That gives Alom a modern rank of #7,067.

What does the Alom surname mean?

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "world" or "universe".

What does the Alom map show?

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