NameCensus.

UK surname

Asam

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "protector" or "safeguard."

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kirklees, Rochdale and Redbridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Asam is 109 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

109

2016, ranked #29,402

Peak year

2016

109 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 109 in 2016, ranked #29,402.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 18 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Asam surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Asam surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Asam 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 5 #32,456
1861 historical 5 #33,418
1891 historical 3 #34,257
1901 historical 18 #32,032
1911 historical 5 #33,427
1997 modern 22 #35,584
1998 modern 27 #35,148
1999 modern 33 #34,610
2000 modern 29 #34,976
2001 modern 33 #34,436
2002 modern 42 #33,951
2003 modern 41 #34,113
2004 modern 47 #33,819
2005 modern 58 #33,094
2006 modern 62 #33,043
2007 modern 64 #33,145
2008 modern 70 #32,856
2009 modern 87 #31,489
2010 modern 95 #31,000
2011 modern 84 #32,237
2012 modern 83 #32,611
2013 modern 89 #32,248
2014 modern 94 #31,909
2015 modern 100 #31,005
2016 modern 109 #29,402

Geography

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Where Asams 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 Kirklees, Rochdale, Redbridge, Dunfermline Pitcorthie West and Islington. 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 Kirklees 023 Kirklees
2 Rochdale 005 Rochdale
3 Redbridge 023 Redbridge
4 Dunfermline Pitcorthie West Fife
5 Islington 004 Islington

Forenames

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First names often paired with Asam

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Asam

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

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Asam 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

Asam 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

Asam falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Asam

The surname Asam has its origins in Germany, where it first emerged in the 14th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old German word "Asen," meaning "gods" or "deities," suggesting that the name may have been given to someone who lived near a sacred or holy site.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Asam can be found in the town of Straubing, Bavaria, where a certain Konrad Asam was mentioned in a document dated 1367. This document, which detailed land ownership records, provides valuable insight into the geographical roots of the surname.

During the 15th and 16th centuries, the Asam name appeared in various records and manuscripts across southern Germany, particularly in the regions of Bavaria and Swabia. For instance, a prominent figure named Hans Asam (1499-1571) was a respected architect and stonemason who worked on several notable buildings in the city of Munich.

In the 17th century, the Asam family gained significant recognition through the artistic achievements of two brothers, Egid Quirin Asam (1692-1750) and Cosmas Damian Asam (1686-1739). These talented individuals were renowned for their contributions to the Baroque style of architecture and decorative arts, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural landscape of Bavaria.

Another notable figure bearing the Asam surname was Johann Nepomuk Asam (1751-1828), a distinguished painter and etcher from the Bavarian town of Kaufbeuren. His works, which often depicted religious themes and landscapes, were highly sought after during his lifetime and are now part of prestigious collections in museums across Europe.

Furthermore, the name Asam has been associated with several place names in Germany, such as Asamstadt, a town in the district of Main-Tauber-Kreis, Baden-Württemberg, and Asamkirchen, a municipality in the district of Ried im Innkreis, Upper Austria. These place names likely derive from the Asam surname, suggesting the historical presence of the family in these regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Asam surname: questions and answers

How common is the Asam surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 109 in 2016. That gives Asam a modern rank of #29,402.

What does the Asam surname mean?

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "protector" or "safeguard."

What does the Asam map show?

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