NameCensus.

UK surname

Attia

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "gift" or "present".

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Attia surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 193, ranked #20,039, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Waltham Forest, Westminster and Barnet.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Attia is 210 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 19200.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

193

2016, ranked #20,039

Peak year

2014

210 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • Attia had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 193 in 2016, ranked #20,039.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 7 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Attia surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Attia surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Attia 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
1861 historical 2 #34,135
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1891 historical 7 #33,665
1901 historical 3 #34,063
1911 historical 1 #34,332
1997 modern 91 #28,215
1998 modern 98 #27,923
1999 modern 104 #27,164
2000 modern 103 #27,280
2001 modern 98 #27,672
2002 modern 111 #26,291
2003 modern 117 #25,282
2004 modern 124 #24,559
2005 modern 127 #24,178
2006 modern 134 #23,590
2007 modern 143 #22,924
2008 modern 159 #21,598
2009 modern 159 #22,072
2010 modern 179 #20,886
2011 modern 180 #20,649
2012 modern 192 #19,730
2013 modern 201 #19,454
2014 modern 210 #19,064
2015 modern 201 #19,494
2016 modern 193 #20,039

Geography

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Where Attias 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 Waltham Forest, Westminster, Barnet and Kingston upon Thames. 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 Waltham Forest 025 Waltham Forest
2 Westminster 023 Westminster
3 Barnet 018 Barnet
4 Westminster 013 Westminster
5 Kingston upon Thames 004 Kingston upon Thames

Forenames

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First names often paired with Attia

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Attia

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

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

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

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Attia is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

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

Attia 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

Attia falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Attia is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
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 Attia, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Attia

The surname Attia has its origins in the Middle East, specifically in Arab regions. It is an Arabic name that can be traced back to the medieval period, around the 7th to 10th centuries AD. The name is believed to have derived from the Arabic word "Atta," which means "gift" or "blessing."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Attia surname can be found in historical documents from the Abbasid Caliphate, which ruled over vast territories spanning from North Africa to Central Asia between the 8th and 13th centuries. It is mentioned in various manuscripts and records from this period, indicating its presence among the Arab population.

During the Middle Ages, the Attia name was particularly prevalent in regions like Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine. It is also believed to have been carried by Arab settlers and traders who migrated to other parts of the Middle East and North Africa, contributing to its spread across the region.

In later centuries, the Attia surname can be found in historical records from various parts of the Ottoman Empire, which controlled much of the Middle East and North Africa from the 14th to the early 20th century. This suggests that the name continued to be used and passed down through generations during this period.

Some notable individuals who bore the Attia surname throughout history include:

1. Abul Hasan Ali ibn Attia al-Andalusi (1035-1109), a renowned Arab mathematician and astronomer from modern-day Spain. 2. Attia ibn Amr al-Kindi (801-873), an Arab philosopher and mathematician who made significant contributions to the fields of optics and chemistry. 3. Yusuf Attia (1905-1983), an Egyptian actor and filmmaker who was considered one of the pioneers of the Egyptian cinema industry. 4. Attia Hosain (1913-1998), a renowned Indian novelist and writer who was part of the Progressive Writers' Movement in undivided India. 5. Attia Inayatullah (1934-2018), a Pakistani diplomat and politician who served as Pakistan's Foreign Minister from 1977 to 1978.

It is worth noting that the Attia surname may have been spelled differently in various historical records, depending on the region and language in which it was written. Variations such as Atia, Attiya, or Atiyah were also common.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Attia families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Attia 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. Middlesex leads with 1 Attias recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.37x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 1 10.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Katherine Creechurch in Middlesex leads with 1 Attias recorded in 1881 and an index of 0.00x.

Place Total Index
St Katherine Creechurch 1 0.00x

Top male names

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

Name Count
Haim 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 Attia households.

Occupation Count
Student 1

FAQ

Attia surname: questions and answers

How common was the Attia surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Attia surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Attia surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 193 in 2016. That gives Attia a modern rank of #20,039.

What does the Attia surname mean?

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "gift" or "present".

What does the Attia map show?

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