NameCensus.

UK surname

Benali

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "sons of Ali".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Liverpool, Kensington and Chelsea and Manchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Benali is 148 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

141

2016, ranked #24,753

Peak year

2014

148 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 141 in 2016, ranked #24,753.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Benali surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Benali surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Benali 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
1911 historical 1 #34,332
1997 modern 53 #32,329
1998 modern 64 #31,562
1999 modern 69 #31,223
2000 modern 69 #31,273
2001 modern 73 #30,699
2002 modern 85 #29,867
2003 modern 95 #28,536
2004 modern 98 #28,297
2005 modern 100 #28,025
2006 modern 105 #27,479
2007 modern 110 #27,087
2008 modern 122 #25,638
2009 modern 124 #25,957
2010 modern 138 #24,801
2011 modern 135 #24,922
2012 modern 131 #25,439
2013 modern 145 #24,207
2014 modern 148 #24,075
2015 modern 144 #24,369
2016 modern 141 #24,753

Geography

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Where Benalis 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 Liverpool, Kensington and Chelsea, Manchester and Ealing. 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 Liverpool 045 Liverpool
2 Kensington and Chelsea 012 Kensington and Chelsea
3 Manchester 030 Manchester
4 Ealing 031 Ealing
5 Liverpool 027 Liverpool

Forenames

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First names often paired with Benali

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Benali

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

Benali 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

Benali falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Benali

The surname BENALI is of Arabic origin, derived from the personal name "Bin Ali" which translates to "son of Ali." It is believed to have originated in North Africa, particularly in Algeria and Morocco, during the medieval period when Arabic culture and language became prevalent in the region.

The name BENALI can be traced back to the 11th century, when it appeared in historical records and manuscripts documenting the ruling dynasties and prominent families in the region. One of the earliest known references to the name is found in the chronicles of the Almoravid dynasty, which ruled over parts of North Africa and Spain between the 11th and 12th centuries.

During the 13th century, the BENALI surname was also recorded in various documents from the Hafsid Dynasty, which ruled over parts of present-day Tunisia and eastern Algeria. This suggests that the name had spread to other areas of North Africa by that time.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname BENALI was Abu Bakr Benali, a renowned scholar and theologian who lived in the city of Fez, Morocco, during the 13th century. He was known for his contributions to Islamic jurisprudence and his writings on various aspects of Islamic law.

Another notable figure with the BENALI surname was Ali Benali, a 15th-century poet and writer from Tlemcen, Algeria. His works, which included poetry and prose, were widely recognized and appreciated during his lifetime and have been preserved in various literary anthologies.

In the 16th century, the BENALI surname was also found in records from the Ottoman Empire, which had extended its control over parts of North Africa during that period. This suggests that individuals with this surname may have migrated or traveled to other regions under Ottoman rule.

One such individual was Ahmed Benali, a prominent military commander who served in the Ottoman army during the latter part of the 16th century. He was known for his leadership in several campaigns against the Spanish forces in the Mediterranean region.

During the 19th century, as North African countries came under French colonial rule, the BENALI surname continued to be documented in various administrative records and censuses. One notable figure from this period was Mohamed Benali, a Tunisian political activist and reformer who played a significant role in the movement for independence from French rule in the early 20th century.

Throughout its history, the BENALI surname has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including scholars, writers, military leaders, and political figures, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and influence of the Arabic-speaking communities in North Africa.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Benali surname: questions and answers

How common is the Benali surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 141 in 2016. That gives Benali a modern rank of #24,753.

What does the Benali surname mean?

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "sons of Ali".

What does the Benali map show?

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