NameCensus.

UK surname

Atta

A surname derived from the word "atta" meaning father or grandfather in various languages.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Surrey Heath, Brent and Westminster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Atta is 288 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

288

2016, ranked #15,180

Peak year

2016

288 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 288 in 2016, ranked #15,180.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 10 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Atta surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Atta surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Atta 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 6 #33,230
1891 historical 3 #34,257
1911 historical 10 #32,609
1997 modern 90 #28,360
1998 modern 101 #27,479
1999 modern 108 #26,602
2000 modern 117 #25,324
2001 modern 108 #26,184
2002 modern 140 #22,876
2003 modern 159 #20,881
2004 modern 159 #21,007
2005 modern 196 #18,404
2006 modern 209 #17,784
2007 modern 227 #17,041
2008 modern 224 #17,337
2009 modern 236 #17,103
2010 modern 272 #15,811
2011 modern 259 #16,237
2012 modern 265 #15,862
2013 modern 269 #15,963
2014 modern 280 #15,621
2015 modern 283 #15,380
2016 modern 288 #15,180

Geography

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Where Attas 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 Surrey Heath, Brent, Westminster, Southwark and Kirklees. 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 Surrey Heath 008 Surrey Heath
2 Brent 027 Brent
3 Westminster 008 Westminster
4 Southwark 029 Southwark
5 Kirklees 011 Kirklees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Atta

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

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

Atta 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

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

Meaning and origin of Atta

The surname Atta finds its origins in the Indian subcontinent, with roots dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit word "atta," meaning "eight," potentially referring to someone born on the eighth day of a lunar cycle or having some other symbolic significance related to the number eight.

One of the earliest documented references to the Atta name can be found in the Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th-century Persian manuscript commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. This historical record mentions various individuals bearing the Atta surname, suggesting its presence during the Mughal Empire's reign in South Asia.

In the 17th century, the Atta name appeared in several Persian and Arabic manuscripts, indicating its widespread use among Muslim communities in the region. During this period, variations in spelling, such as Attar and Attah, were also common.

Notable historical figures with the Atta surname include Atta-Ullah Shah (1892-1961), a renowned Sufi scholar and poet from Punjab, Pakistan. His literary works, particularly his poetry collection "Diwan-e-Atta," have left a lasting impact on the spiritual and literary traditions of the region.

Another prominent individual was Sher Atta Khan (1765-1842), a Pashtun military commander and ruler of the Atta Khel tribe in present-day Pakistan and Afghanistan. His campaigns and leadership during the 19th century played a significant role in shaping the political landscape of the region.

In the realm of arts and culture, Taufiq Atta (1914-1990) was a celebrated Pakistani writer and poet. His literary contributions, including novels, short stories, and poetry, earned him numerous accolades and recognition as a influential figure in Urdu literature.

Moving to more recent times, Mohammad Atta (1968-2001) was an Egyptian national and one of the hijackers involved in the September 11, 2001, attacks in the United States. While his actions were controversial and widely condemned, his name gained notoriety in the context of global terrorism.

It is worth noting that the Atta surname has also been found in other regions, such as parts of Central Asia and the Middle East, suggesting its migration and adoption beyond the Indian subcontinent over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Atta surname: questions and answers

How common is the Atta surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 288 in 2016. That gives Atta a modern rank of #15,180.

What does the Atta surname mean?

A surname derived from the word "atta" meaning father or grandfather in various languages.

What does the Atta map show?

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