NameCensus.

UK surname

Anis

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "friend" or "companion".

In the 1881 census there were 4 people recorded with the Anis surname, ranking it #33,288 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 130, ranked #26,152, up from #33,288 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kensington and Chelsea, Craigie and Craigiebank and Hackney.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Anis is 147 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 3150.0%.

1881 census count

4

Ranked #33,288

Modern count

130

2016, ranked #26,152

Peak year

2013

147 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • Anis had 4 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,288 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 130 in 2016, ranked #26,152.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 33 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Anis surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Anis surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Anis 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 8 #31,867
1861 historical 33 #29,814
1881 historical 4 #33,288
1891 historical 22 #32,449
1901 historical 22 #31,562
1911 historical 12 #32,302
1997 modern 53 #32,329
1998 modern 53 #32,633
1999 modern 57 #32,367
2000 modern 58 #32,317
2001 modern 63 #31,693
2002 modern 72 #31,269
2003 modern 64 #32,056
2004 modern 79 #30,799
2005 modern 90 #29,527
2006 modern 111 #26,565
2007 modern 117 #26,066
2008 modern 121 #25,785
2009 modern 122 #26,220
2010 modern 143 #24,247
2011 modern 128 #25,793
2012 modern 143 #24,019
2013 modern 147 #23,977
2014 modern 144 #24,504
2015 modern 139 #24,956
2016 modern 130 #26,152

Geography

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Where Anis' 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 Kensington and Chelsea, Craigie and Craigiebank, Hackney, South Leith and Clydesdale South. 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 Kensington and Chelsea 008 Kensington and Chelsea
2 Craigie and Craigiebank Dundee City
3 Hackney 011 Hackney
4 South Leith City of Edinburgh
5 Clydesdale South South Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Anis

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Anis

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Anis is most associated with areas classed as Young Asian Family Terraces, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These households with dependent children typically live in terraced housing and are of (non-Chinese) Asian extraction. Individuals with Bangladeshi origins are particularly in evidence. Employment is often in elementary occupations or as process, plant or machine operatives, and part-time work is common. Students are much in evidence.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Anis 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

Anis 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 Anis 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 Anis, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Anis

The surname Anis is believed to have originated in the Middle East, particularly in the Arabic-speaking regions. The name is derived from the Arabic word "anees," which means "friendly" or "companion." It is possible that the name was initially given to individuals who were known for their friendly and sociable nature.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Anis can be traced back to the 8th century CE. During this period, the name appears in various historical documents and records from the region, indicating its widespread use among Arab communities. Some scholars suggest that the name may have been adopted by individuals who migrated from Arabia to other parts of the Middle East and North Africa, contributing to its wider distribution.

In the 11th century, a prominent figure named Abu Bakr al-Anis al-Dimashqi, a renowned scholar and poet from Damascus, gained recognition for his literary works. His birth and death years are unknown, but his legacy as an influential figure in the literary and cultural circles of the time is well-documented.

The surname Anis also found its way into the Mediterranean region, particularly in Spain and Portugal, during the period of Muslim rule in the Iberian Peninsula (8th to 15th centuries). It is believed that individuals with the surname Anis may have migrated from the Middle East or North Africa to these regions, bringing the name with them.

One notable individual with the surname Anis was Ibn Abi Anis, a 12th-century Arab poet and literary critic from Seville, Spain. Born in 1156, he was known for his contributions to the field of Arabic literature and criticism.

In the 14th century, a prominent figure named Ibn al-Anis al-Murabbi, a scholar and mathematician from Granada, Spain, made significant contributions to the field of mathematics and astronomy. His birth and death years are not precisely recorded, but his works and teachings left a lasting impact on the academic circles of his time.

As the surname Anis spread across different regions, it underwent various spelling variations, including Anees, Anise, and Anice. These variations were often influenced by local dialects and languages, as well as the transliteration processes used to represent the name in different writing systems.

It is worth noting that while the surname Anis has its roots in the Middle East and North Africa, it has since been adopted by individuals from various cultural and ethnic backgrounds around the world, reflecting the migration patterns and cultural exchange that have occurred throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Anis families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Anis 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. Warwickshire leads with 3 Anis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.61x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 3 30.61x
Suffolk 1 21.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Napton On Hill in Warwickshire leads with 3 Anis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 30000.00x.

Place Total Index
Napton On Hill 3 30000.00x
Bury St Edmunds St James 1 769.23x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Anne 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 1
Thomas 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 Anis households.

FAQ

Anis surname: questions and answers

How common was the Anis surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4 people were recorded with the Anis surname. That placed it at #33,288 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Anis surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 130 in 2016. That gives Anis a modern rank of #26,152.

What does the Anis surname mean?

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "friend" or "companion".

What does the Anis map show?

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