NameCensus.

UK surname

Azim

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "great" or "magnificent".

In the 1881 census there were 3 people recorded with the Azim surname, ranking it #33,498 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 545, ranked #9,349, up from #33,498 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Azim is 566 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 18066.7%.

1881 census count

3

Ranked #33,498

Modern count

545

2016, ranked #9,349

Peak year

2010

566 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Azim had 3 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,498 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 545 in 2016, ranked #9,349.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Azim surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Azim surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Azim 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
1881 historical 3 #33,498
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1911 historical 2 #34,020
1997 modern 224 #16,392
1998 modern 254 #15,508
1999 modern 274 #14,826
2000 modern 287 #14,345
2001 modern 290 #14,033
2002 modern 323 #13,325
2003 modern 346 #12,511
2004 modern 374 #11,843
2005 modern 396 #11,271
2006 modern 438 #10,469
2007 modern 454 #10,264
2008 modern 493 #9,757
2009 modern 521 #9,554
2010 modern 566 #9,158
2011 modern 538 #9,444
2012 modern 501 #9,843
2013 modern 528 #9,633
2014 modern 528 #9,701
2015 modern 532 #9,567
2016 modern 545 #9,349

Geography

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Where Azims 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 Oldham, Rochdale, Luton and Slough. 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 Oldham 035 Oldham
2 Rochdale 010 Rochdale
3 Luton 010 Luton
4 Oldham 022 Oldham
5 Slough 004 Slough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Azim

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

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Azim is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Azim 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

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

Meaning and origin of Azim

The surname "AZIM" is of Arabic origin, tracing its roots back to the Middle East during the medieval period. It is derived from the Arabic word "azim," which means "great" or "mighty," suggesting that the name may have been initially bestowed upon individuals of significant stature or accomplishment.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the historical chronicles of the Abbasid Caliphate, which ruled over vast territories spanning from modern-day Iran to North Africa between the 8th and 13th centuries. During this time, the name Azim appeared among the ranks of scholars, poets, and military leaders who contributed to the flourishing of Islamic culture and the dissemination of knowledge.

In the 11th century, a Persian poet and philosopher named Abu'l-Ala al-Azim al-Ma'arri (973-1057) gained renown for his profound works, which explored themes of rationalism, skepticism, and the human condition. His literary legacy has endured through the ages, and he is widely regarded as one of the most influential thinkers of the medieval Islamic world.

As the Islamic empires expanded and trade routes opened up, the surname Azim traveled across regions, taking root in diverse cultures and communities. In the 14th century, historical records from the Delhi Sultanate in South Asia mention a notable figure named Azim Khan, who served as a military commander under the reign of Sultan Firoz Shah Tughlaq.

During the 16th century, the Mughal Empire in India saw the rise of Abdul Azim, a revered Sufi saint whose shrine in the city of Aurangabad became a significant pilgrimage site. His spiritual teachings and legacy have left an indelible mark on the region's cultural fabric.

Throughout the centuries, the surname Azim has been associated with various place names and locations. For instance, the town of Azim Nagar in Uttar Pradesh, India, bears this name, suggesting a historical connection to individuals or families who carried the surname.

While the surname Azim has its roots in the Middle East and South Asia, it has since spread across the globe, with notable individuals bearing this name in various fields, including literature, academia, and public service. Some examples include Azim Premji (b. 1945), an Indian business tycoon and philanthropist, and Azim Jamal (b. 1946), a Canadian scholar and author renowned for his contributions to organizational theory and management studies.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Azim families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Azim 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. Essex leads with 3 Azims recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.35x.

County Total Index
Essex 3 31.35x
Royal Navy 2 344.83x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. East Ham in Essex leads with 3 Azims recorded in 1881 and an index of 1666.67x.

Place Total Index
East Ham 3 1666.67x

Top male names

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

Name Count
Mahomed 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 Azim households.

Occupation Count
Coal Trimmer 1

FAQ

Azim surname: questions and answers

How common was the Azim surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3 people were recorded with the Azim surname. That placed it at #33,498 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Azim surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 545 in 2016. That gives Azim a modern rank of #9,349.

What does the Azim surname mean?

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "great" or "magnificent".

What does the Azim map show?

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