NameCensus.

UK surname

Asim

A surname meaning "bestower" or "protector" with origins in Arabic.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wakefield, Newcastle upon Tyne and Rushcliffe.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Asim is 542 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

535

2016, ranked #9,499

Peak year

2014

542 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 535 in 2016, ranked #9,499.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Asim surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Asim surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Asim 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
1861 historical 4 #33,628
1911 historical 1 #34,332
1997 modern 104 #26,351
1998 modern 129 #23,722
1999 modern 134 #23,378
2000 modern 141 #22,648
2001 modern 147 #21,756
2002 modern 177 #19,759
2003 modern 205 #17,851
2004 modern 226 #16,829
2005 modern 268 #14,905
2006 modern 297 #14,004
2007 modern 344 #12,743
2008 modern 363 #12,359
2009 modern 417 #11,346
2010 modern 427 #11,379
2011 modern 452 #10,748
2012 modern 496 #9,921
2013 modern 523 #9,697
2014 modern 542 #9,508
2015 modern 536 #9,517
2016 modern 535 #9,499

Geography

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Where Asims 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 Wakefield, Newcastle upon Tyne, Rushcliffe, Viewlands, Craigie and Wellshill and Barnet. 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 Wakefield 030 Wakefield
2 Newcastle upon Tyne 022 Newcastle upon Tyne
3 Rushcliffe 005 Rushcliffe
4 Viewlands, Craigie and Wellshill Perth and Kinross
5 Barnet 006 Barnet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Asim

These lists show first names that appear often with the Asim 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 Asim

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

Asim 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

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

Meaning and origin of Asim

The surname ASIM has its origins in the Middle East, specifically in the Arabic-speaking regions. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 7th to 10th centuries AD. The name is derived from the Arabic word "asim," which means "protector" or "defender."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname ASIM can be found in historical records from the Abbasid Caliphate, which ruled a vast empire stretching from modern-day Iran to North Africa between the 8th and 13th centuries. Several individuals bearing this surname are mentioned in chronicles and manuscripts from that era, indicating its widespread use among Arabic populations.

During the expansion of Islamic empires, the surname ASIM likely spread to various regions, including parts of Europe and South Asia. In some areas, the name may have undergone slight variations in spelling or pronunciation due to linguistic and cultural influences.

Notable historical figures with the surname ASIM include Abu Bakr al-Asim, a renowned Islamic scholar and hadith compiler who lived in the 9th century. Another prominent individual was Ahmad ibn Asim al-Antaki, a 13th-century Syrian historian and author of a comprehensive chronicle on the Crusades.

In the 14th century, Shams al-Din al-Asim served as a high-ranking official and vizier in the Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt and Syria. His name is mentioned in several contemporary sources documenting the political and administrative affairs of the region.

During the Ottoman Empire's rule in the 16th and 17th centuries, the name ASIM can be found in various records and documents from the Balkans and Anatolia. One notable figure was Asim Efendi, a 17th-century Ottoman poet and calligrapher renowned for his literary works and artistic abilities.

In more recent history, Mohammad Asim Khan was a prominent Indian Muslim leader and politician who played a significant role in the Indian independence movement in the early 20th century. He was born in 1873 and passed away in 1935.

While the surname ASIM has roots in the Middle East and Islamic cultures, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to migration and cross-cultural influences. However, its etymology and historical significance remain deeply intertwined with its Arabic origins and the rich cultural heritage of the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Asim surname: questions and answers

How common is the Asim surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 535 in 2016. That gives Asim a modern rank of #9,499.

What does the Asim surname mean?

A surname meaning "bestower" or "protector" with origins in Arabic.

What does the Asim map show?

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